NURSERY OPERATIONS. 29 



long. Those used in 1912 were about 5 inches high and had, on the 

 average, at least eight roots, seldom more than 12 inches long. 



These facts tend to show that better nourished, and hence more 

 vigorous trees, are being produced by the use of manures. The more 

 numerous roots, confined to a smaller space, are likely to increase the 

 success of field planting, because, while deep roots are desirable, they 

 can not be handled without damage, and a few long roots are less 

 likely to secure soil moisture for the tree than many short ones. It 

 is probable, also, that the greater size attained by trees in the enriched 

 soil will also reduce from three years to two years the time required 

 in the nursery. This practically reduces the costs by one- third and 

 proportionately increases the capacity of the nursery. 



SEED SOWING. 



Seed beds are established each year where the ground has been 

 well fertilized the previous year and, when possible, where a soiling 

 crop has been grown in addition. After the ground has been graded 

 so as to be irrigable from a single ditch it is flooded for settling and 

 then staked out in beds 4 feet wide, with 20-inch paths between. 

 The beds are grouped in sections. Each section is about 50 feet wide 

 east and west and about 160 feet long north and south. The sec- 

 tions are separated from one another by 5-foot windbreak fences 

 designed particularly to check the winds from the west and north- 

 west. In some places willows and other trees have been planted to 

 take the place of the fence windbreaks, but as space in the nursery is 

 becoming more and more precious, the wisdom of such planting 

 seems doubtful. 



The surface of the beds is very carefully smoothed and firmed, in 

 order that the seeds may all be covered equally. 



Before sowing the seed is coated with red lead to make it unattrac- 

 tive to birds and rodents. Red lead is effective for small seed, but is 

 less so with larger sizes. However, seed destruction seems to become 

 less common each year. 



The seed is sown broadcast in sufficient quantity to make about 

 125 seedlings to the square foot. The quality of the seed, number of 

 seed per pound, and expected losses affect, of course, the quantity used. 

 One pound of yellow pine may be enough for from 30 to 60 square 

 feet of bed, while one pound of Norway or Scotch pine seed may 

 cover 100 square feet. As soon as it is sown the seed is covered as 

 evenly as possible by sifting soil over it from a plasterer's sieve to 

 a depth of from one-eighth to one-fourth inch. A light watering 

 follows this covering, and if any seeds are uncovered by this sprinkling 

 more soil is sifted onto them. 



As soon as a bed has been sown it is completely covered with burlap, 

 pegged down at the edges of the bed, so as to be in close contact with 

 the soil. This acts as a mulch to prevent drying of the surface soil 



