THE SOWING OF SEEDS 43 



with a very fine tilth as already described, must be nice and 

 firm ; a fine tilth on a loosely made bed is of no use whatever 

 for small seeds. When seeds are sown they must be covered 

 over with soil, and the thickness of this covering should not 

 be more than twice the length of the seed. It will thus be 

 seen that seeds like Birch, Alder, and Thuya gigantea require 

 practically hardly any covering. Such very small seed will 

 get a sufficient covering if sown on the surface, and " firmed " 

 in with a light roller, and a little fine ashes or rubble sifted 

 over the top, just enough to hide the seed. This grit or 

 ashes should be first sifted free from dust ; it will prevent the 

 surface soil from " caking." 



When sowing, seed may be either sown broadcast or in 

 drills. 



If sown broadcast, the operation is quicker and cheaper, 

 and a greater number of seedlings can be raised on any given 

 area. On the other hand, the weeding of the seed-bed is 

 rendered almost impossible except by cutting through any 

 large weeds at ground level with a knife, for to attempt to 

 pull them up would result in also pulling up many seedlings ; 

 and then again, the danger of the seedlings being injured by 

 frost lifting is very much increased. 



Any large seed, like Acorns, Beech nuts, or Chestnuts, or 

 Walnuts, and so also any autumn sown seed, and any seed the 

 seedlings from which are intended to be left for 2 years in 

 the seed-beds, should invariably be sown in drills ; and so 

 also should expensive seed. But in the case of other seeds, 

 it is difficult to give preference to one method over another. 

 Small seed, sown broadcast, should be lightly raked in, and if 

 necessary, rolled, and have a little fine rubble or ashes sifted 

 over the top. 



When sowing in drills, the drills should be made across 

 the seed beds (which should not be more than 4 feet wide), so 

 as to facilitate weeding. 



The drills for large seed like Oak and Spanish Chestnut 

 should be about 8 inches to 12 inches apart, and the nuts 

 placed 2 inches apart in the drills. The nuts of Spanish 

 Chestnut should always be sown with the point of the nut 



