CHAPTER XI 



ESTABLISHING FORESTS BY DIRECT SEEDING 

 1. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 



DIRECT seeding differs from natural seeding in that the seed is 

 brought to the site and scattered by man instead of being self- 

 sown. In natural seeding a large proportion of the seed is de- 

 stroyed by animal life and by adverse climatic conditions. Under 

 the very best conditions, only a small percentage of the seed which 

 falls from the trees during the autumn and winter germinates. 

 Among the seedlings that result from the germination only a few 

 grow and become established. 



We cannot hope to distribute as much seed in artificial regener- 

 ation as is ordinarily scattered in natural seeding. The necessary 

 diminution in the amount of seed used per unit of area must be com- 

 pensated for by better conditions for germination, establishment, and 

 early growth. The chief factors which determine the degree of 

 germination and establishment and the rate of early growth on a 

 given site are as follows: 



a. The quality of the seed. 



6. The species. 



c. The vegetative cover. 



d. The condition of the surface soil. 



e. The freedom of the site from seed-eating birds and rodents. 

 /. The quantity of seed sown per unit of area. 



g. The time of sowing. 



h. The depth of covering. 



Only seed of the highest quality should be used in direct seed- 

 ing. Seed in which the viability has been weakened by long 

 storage should be confined to nursery work where the environ- 

 mental conditions that influence germination and early growth 

 are under better control. 



Seeds containing a large amount of reserve food and germinating 

 in the early spring are better adapted for direct seeding than small 

 seeds which are slow to germinate and which produce plants of 



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