1 8 Practical Forestry 



taken at haphazard from the heap, on a red-hot iron. If 

 good they will turn about with a cracking report ; but if 

 otherwise, combustion is slow and smoke is given off. 



Seed may, however, be considered good if the germinating 

 test gives, say, 70 per cent. 



The quantity of seed to be sown on a given area will 

 depend mainly on the quality and particular species. 



When sown broadcast, about a pound weight of larch, and 

 full half a pound of Scotch, is allowed per 100 square ft. 

 of seed-bed. 



Generally, however, drill sowing is resorted to, and in 

 this case the following may be considered as about an 

 average of the quantity used per 100 square ft. : 



Alder . . . . . . . 7f ozs. 



Ash ...... . .5 



Austrian Pine. . . . . . 4|- 



Birch . . . . . . . . 6$ 



Elm * . , . __. . ... . 3i 



Hornbeam . . . . . . 2f 



Larch . , . . 7| 



Maple . . . . . . . .5 



Scotch fir . . . . . . . 2| 



Silver ,, * " . . . ' . . .13 



Spruce .- . . . . . . t . 3^ 



Sometimes a small quantity of guano or other manure 

 is sprinkled over the seeds, after which they are gently 

 pressed down with a light roller, and the soil, which was 

 temporarily deposited along the margin of the bed, replaced 

 by the " cuffing-board " or riddle. When seeds are sown 

 early, and with care, on well-prepared ground, watering is 

 seldom necessary ; but still, with small seeds and in very 

 dry ground, an occasional sprinkling the last thing at night 

 is highly beneficial. Great care is, however, necessary to 

 ensure the soil being thoroughly moistened. Protection 

 from mice and birds must be afforded in some such manner 

 as by coating the seeds with red lead ; and an occasional 

 shading of the bed in very warm weather might be advo- 

 cated. There are not a few kinds of seeds, such as those 

 with a hard covering, that it is almost imperative to steep 

 in water before sowing. Larch seed, in particular, can be 



