SEEDS 53 



To some, perhaps, these details are rather uninteresting, but to 

 the grower of young seedlings, who strives for maximum results, 

 each and every one of these operations must be given careful con- 

 sideration. 



WATERING 



The watering of the young evergreen seedlings is an essential 

 operation, and anyone considering the culture of conifers on a com- 

 mercial basis must first arrange for plenty of water accessible to all 

 parts of the seed bed area. The water is not used as a means to 

 force added growth to the seedlings; it is an insurance against pro- 

 longed and severe drought at a time when the seeds are germinating. 

 Some seasons not a drop of water will be required, the rams coming 

 at just the right tune to give the necessary moisture to induce the 

 maximum germination. The next year's conditions may be just 

 the reverse, and after the seed is planted and the time for germinat- 

 ing at hand if the weather is dry, the seed will germinate poorly if 

 not supplied with moisture at this time. Therefore, it is necessary 

 that the water be available when it is needed, otherwise the seed 

 beds will be uneven. 



THINNING THE SEED BEDS 



The plan followed is to plant the seed thick enough to insure a 

 heavy stand; the theory is that if the young seedlings come too 

 thick they must be thinned to the desired quantity upon a given 

 area. However, if they do not come thick enough, the growth is 

 seldom good, due to the fact that the ground is not shaded by the 

 young seedlings. Therefore be generous with your seed at planting 

 time, knowing that if they are too thick they can be thinned, but 

 if the stand is poor it never grows better. In fact, in the latter cir- 

 cumstance, the little trees seem to disappear and at the end of the 

 second year most of them have succumbed to the elements. It may 

 be necessary throughout the long, hot dry Summer to water the 

 beds. If watering is necessary, it should be done in a thorough 

 manner. Soak the ground so that water reaches down to the roots 

 of the seedlings. It is best applied in the late afternoon or evening, 

 in fact we usually water the seed beds during the night. This pre- 

 vents the sun from burning the seedlings while the foliage is wet 



DAMPING-OFF OF CONIFEROUS SEEDLINGS 



Many seedlings of conifers are killed by the damping-off fungus 

 even before they make their appearance above the seed bed. Poor 



