16 Practical Forestry 



the ground at, say, 3 ft. from the boundary fence or path, 

 and, after being fixed at each end, the first alley, or path, is 

 marked out by treading the soil alongside of the line. The 

 length of the bed thus marked off on one side is quite 

 immaterial, but the width is of great importance, and should 

 never exceed 4 ft. ; 3 ft. 6 in. is nearer the mark. 



Adjoining this first line, a bed the above width is marked 

 off with a peg or stake at each end, the line reset and a 

 second alley marked off. The alley, or path, between each 

 couple of beds need not exceed 15 in. in width, this being 

 for the sake of convenience in sowing, weeding, watering, 

 shading, and otherwise attending to the bed, and its occu- 

 pants. Outside this follows a second bed, and so on, until 

 the desired number has been formed. Some persons raise 

 the seed-beds a little above the level of the paths, but, 

 except in very retentive or damp soils, this is not to be 

 recommended. The beds should in no instance, however, 

 be below the level of the paths. There are two methods 

 employed in opening up and preparing the beds for the 

 reception of the seeds either of which, if carefully gone 

 about, is well suited for the exigencies of the case. My own 

 way has always been to level and smooth the surface of 

 the bed with a small-toothed rake, and after sowing the 

 seeds to cover lightly with fine soil and ashes carefully 

 sifted over the bed by means of a small-meshed riddle. 

 This plan has many advantages, not the least important 

 being the covering of the seeds to an equal depth, and the 

 employing of only the finest class of soil. The other method 

 is by using what is termed a " cuffing-board " that is, a 

 board about 8 in. wide, placed on a handle, which is inserted 

 in the centre, towards the back, the handle being fully 

 5 ft. long. A skilled person is required to use this tool, who 

 stands in the alley, first on one side of the bed, and then 

 on the other, pushing or drawing towards him from the 

 surface of the bed a thin coating of soil along its full length 

 and from about two- thirds of its surface. 



As to the amount or depth of soil taken off, this is regu- 

 lated by the particular kind of seed to be sown, as well as 

 the nature of the soil, 



