270 SEEDING AND PLANTING 



8. Formation of the Drills. The depth, form, and size of the 

 drills depend upon the size of the seed and the character of the 

 soil. Large seed requires narrow but deep drills, the seed falling 

 in a single line. Small seed requires broad but shallow drills, 

 the seed falling in narrow bands rather than in lines. They 

 should be deeper in dry, sandy soils than in heavy, moist 

 soils. 



A great variety of implements are in use for forming the drills. 

 Drill markers for large-seeded broadleaved species that are sown 

 in wide-spaced drills are operated by horse power, ten or more 

 drills being made in a single trip over the compartment. When 

 similar species are sown in closer-spaced drills in narrow beds the 

 drill marker is like a strong-toothed rake with large teeth spaced 

 2 or more inches apart, depending upon the spacing of the drills. 

 The drills are made 3 or 4 at a time by drawing the implement 

 lengthwise or crosswise of the bed. The seed is usually sown by 

 hand and a hoe or rake used in covering it. 



Small, closely-spaced drills for conifers and small-seeded broad- 

 leaved species are often made with marking boards or drill 

 rollers. 



9. Marking Boards. Marking boards permit of accurate and 

 rapid work. Although a great variety of such boards are in use, 

 they are essentially alike in their application. They can be used 

 only when the surface of the bed is flat. They are of the same 

 length as the width of the bed and of variable width, depend- 

 ing upon the spacing of the drills and the number made with 

 a single application of the board. For moderately deep, narrow 

 drills equally spaced the form described by Heyer 1 is as good 

 as any. Three triangular battens about 1| inches on a side are 

 attached to two cross pieces parallel to each other and at the 

 desired distance apart. By placing the board across the bed and 

 pressing the battens into the soil three V-shaped drills are made, 

 the depth depending upon the pressure applied to the board 

 (Fig. 54). 



For smaller single or double drills, small battens of variable 

 shape are nailed to the under side of a board, as long as the width 

 of the bed. Small seeds, as of spruce and most pines, should be 

 sown in a narrow band rather than in a single line. 



1 Heyer, Carl: Der Waldbau oder die Forstproduktenzucht. 5. Aufl., 

 1. Bd., S. 274. Leipzig, 1906. 



