156 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



in oil and full of meat. Seeds should be purchased late in the fall and stored 

 in tight tin cans in a cold building. 



A continuous water supply is essential. The control of moisture con- 

 ditions in the soil is of greatest importance in securing success. The soil 

 should be well drained and not heavy, in order to reduce the surface moisture, 

 while water should be provided when necessary. In our practice we have 

 found that the growth of seedlings can be increased at least two inches a 

 year by the proper application of water. Water is also necessary to retain 

 proper moisture conditions in the seed beds and effect germination. During 

 periods of drought large quantities should be applied to the young transplants. 



The methods to be employed will depend upon the local conditions in 

 minor points, but in general the following will apply to our northeastern 

 states. The various portions of the work will be considered in the following 

 order: (1) making the seed bed; (2) care of seedlings; (3) the transplant- 

 ing; (4) care of transplants ; (5) packing stock. 



The seed beds four feet wide and twelve feet long are the most convenient, 

 and such a bed will produce from 5,000 to 12,000 seedlings, each depending 

 upon the success of the work. Each bed should be enclosed in a frame* 

 covered with wire netting to exclude the birds who destroy the young trees 

 by eating the seeds which are on the tip top of the young plants. This box is 

 placed in position, the soil carefully prepared, the bed is made with a gentle 

 slope about one and one-half inches higher in the center than at the outside 

 and the surface of the bed about four inches higher than the path. The soil 

 should then be saturated with water and the seeds sown carefully broadcast 

 over the bed. The quantity of seed to be sown will depend upon the size 

 of the seed which varies with species and is as follows : White pine, 12 ounces ; 

 Scotch pine, 8 ounces; Red pine, 6 ounces; Norway spruce, 8 ounces; Euro- 

 pean larch, 12 ounces. These seeds should then be pressed into the soil and 

 covered lightly to a depth of about one-eighth of an inch with sterile soil 

 carefully sifted. The box should then be tightly enclosed to retain the 

 moisture and left for germination. Care should be exercised that the soil 

 continues moist in order to supply the necessary water to germinate the 

 seeds. The seeds should be sown about the time garden seeds would be 

 planted. 



After two or three weeks the seeds will begin to germinate and at that 

 time need careful attention. Up to this time it has been necessary to produce 

 moist, humid conditions in the seed bed, but as soon as germination takes 

 place it will be necessary to reverse the conditions and full ventilation and 

 dry surface soil will be necessary in order to prevent "damping off." This 

 is the most serious difficulty in seed bed work. It is a fungus disease which 

 destroys the tissues at the surface of the soil and the trees apparently wilt, 

 but as a matter of fact are suffering from this disease. The best remedy is 

 prevention effected by removing any unnecessary dampness. Just as soon 

 as germination has been secured all the covering used to conserve moisture 

 during the germination period should be removed and from that time on 

 during the remainder of the first season only half shade of lath should be 

 used. 



The beds should be carefully watched during the season. All weeds 

 should be removed when small and the weeding done often. In case of dry 

 weather, water should be applied late in the afternoon. Late in the summer 

 the wire covering and lath shades should be removed to "harden" the trees 

 for winter. In early winter, after a few inches of snow has fallen, the beds 

 should be covered with one thickness of burlap over the snow. 



Detailed information in regard to the construction of such boxes will be found in 

 Bulletin No. 76, Forest Service, Washington, D. C. 



