REFORESTATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 11 



much more firm. The screens should then be placed about 1 foot 

 above the bed, the laths running north and south. Stakes with 

 a cross-piece 1 foot long nailed on top (Fig. 4), stuck into the 

 ground at each corner of the screens, will hold them in place. 



Damping off. 



After the seedlings have appeared above ground and the mulch 

 been removed, a dangerous disease to the seedlings is liable to 

 appear, especially if cool, wet weather sets in. This disease 

 causes the seedlings to wilt or die off in large numbers, the stem 

 near the ground rotting off, so that the seedling tips over and 

 dies. The best way to prevent this disease is to remove the 

 screens for a short time each day. Care must, however, be taken 

 not to allow them to remain off long enough for the sun to burn 

 the seedlings, as they are very tender at this stage. If the beds 

 are sprinkled with coarse sand, it also prevents the soil from 

 'becoming wet and damp. 



The seed beds should be carefully weeded as soon as any weeds 

 appear, care being taken not to root up the seedlings. After the 

 seedlings have obtained a good start, the roots have branched out 

 and a firm hold has been secured, a small hand weeder may be 

 drawn between the drills, to remove the small weeds and at the 

 same time cultivate and fine the soil about the roots of the trees. 



Oak, chestnut and other deciduous tree seeds may be sown 

 in beds 8 or 10 feet wide and 25 to 50 feet long, the seed being 

 planted about 2 inches apart in trenches 1 foot apart. This 

 leaves ample space for cultivating seedlings. It is a safe rule to 

 plant seed twice its own depth, as if planted too deep it is liable 

 not to come up till the following spring. Under average condi- 

 tions, deciduous seeds need not be mulched or shaded. In a 

 short time they should be of sufficient size so that a small hand 

 cultivator may be used. 



Protection in the Winter. 



In order to protect the tender seedlings from alternate freez- 

 ing and thawing during the winter, they should be mulched 

 with leaves, pine needles or straw. The screens should then be 

 removed from the seed beds of evergreens, and the mulch spread 

 over the beds to a depth of from 3 to 4 inches. The screens can 



