PROPAGATION. 97 



the plants. For most kinds of conifers the shade is re- 

 quired for at least two years. 



Most of the Coniferous Tree Seedlings Grow Very 

 Slowly When Young, seldom making a growth of more 

 than two or three inches the first year. The most rapid 

 growing of our Pines seldom produce a growth of more 

 than sixteen inches in four years, and should not be moved 

 to their permanent place until about this time. They 

 should, however, be transplanted from the seed-bed to a 

 temporary place when two years old, to prevent crowd- 

 ing and to make a compact root-growth. 



On the approach of winter, the beds of coniferous seed- 

 lings should be covered with about three inches of straw 

 or leaves, evergreen branches, or other material that will 

 afford protection from the sun and from alternate freez- 

 ing and thawing. This should be removed in the spring 

 after all danger from drying cold winds has passed. 



Depth to Cover Seeds. Most of our tree seeds should, 

 in good soil, be covered from one-half to three-quarters 

 of an inch ; but this is rather too much for such small seeds 

 as the Birch, Alder, and Cottonwood, while the Black 

 Walnut, native Plum, Acorns, and other large seeds 

 and seeds of Box-elder, Ash, Soft Maple, and Basswood 

 may often be covered two inches to advantage if the soil 

 is somewhat dry. It is a good rule not to cover any tree 

 seeds deeper than is necessary to secure permanent moist- 

 ure, and on wet or heavy land only a very thin covering 

 is desirable. If the land is very heavy, it is a good plan 

 not only to cover lightly but to sow more thickly than 

 usual, as a large number of seeds may be able to push 

 up through the surface soil when a few would fail to 

 do so. 



The Amount of Seeds of Deciduous Trees to Sow on 

 a given area depends very much on the kind and quality 

 of the seeds and the soil in which they are to be sown. As 



