136 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS pt.h 



not readily germinate in ordinary seed-beds, experiments 

 should be made, if possible, on soil similar to that on 

 which the species grows in its natural habitat, and in 

 circumstances similar ; e.g. if it is found growing under 

 cover on well-drained quartzitic soil, the seed should be 

 sown on ridges of sandy soil, lightly shaded over. 



The amount of watering to be given to seed-beds 

 until the seed germinates will depend on species, soil, 

 and climate. Many species will not germinate freely if 

 the soil is too moist, and it is better, as a general rule, 

 to keep the soil only moderately moist. The same rule 

 applies also to newly germinated seedlings which easily 

 damp off. Before germination, unless the soil is very 

 porous and dries easily or cracks on the surface, it is not 

 usually necessary to water every day, unless a light 

 sprinkling with a watering -rose be given. After ger- 

 mination it may become necessary or desirable to water 

 as many times as thrice a day. If given only once, the 

 evening is the best time for watering, except in localities 

 and at seasons where frosts occur, where plants watered 

 in the evening are more likely to suffer from frost-bite. 

 In such places the watering should be done in the early 

 morning ; if done in the middle of the day the seedlings 

 may suffer from over-transpiration. 



The shading of young seedlings in the seed-beds is 

 a necessarv item in the management of nurseries. In 



J o 



permanent nurseries light mats made of straw, or in 

 some cases of open-meshed coco-nut matting, are usually 

 kept and placed on supports sufficiently high over the 

 beds to admit of the circulation of air and the admis- 

 sion of a certain amount of light. In frosty localities, 

 where the early sun has to be feared and wherever the 

 slanting rays of the sun are too strong, other mats are 

 also placed vertically along the sides of the beds. The 

 mats should be removed when the sun is not too strong, 

 except where frosts occur, when they should be put on 

 overnight. In temporary nurseries, mats can be roughly 

 made of grass or twigs, or it may suffice to stick leafy 

 boughs into the ground to give the necessary shelter. 



