BRITISH l-ORKST TREES in 



has shown, however, that 4 feet x 4 feet is preferable to any 

 wider distance. 



Sowing. Although planting is now generally admitted to 

 be preferable to sowing, yet under certain circumstances the 

 latter method finds its proper uses, as, for example, where 

 seedlings or transplants are not conveniently obtainable, 

 or where the soil is too rocky or otherwise unsuitable for 

 planting, or when a good market for small material like pea- 

 sticks can be tapped early and remuneratively. More seed 

 per acre is used for spruce than for Scots pine, for not only 

 do fewer seeds go to the Ib. (55,000 to 57,000), but a denser 

 crop is also desirable. As a rule about 10 to 12 Ibs. per 

 acre are used, although this quantity must be increased in 

 proportion to the magnitude of the danger from drought, 

 weeds, or lifting of the seedlings by frost. Sowings are less 

 frequently made broadcast than in rows, or strips, or on 

 small patches, and clean seed is now alone used, a soil- 

 covering not exceeding a quarter of an inch being provided 

 by light raking. The operation is carried out towards the 

 end of April or the beginning of May, as a rule, and only 

 exceptionally in autumn. Except where rank growth of 

 weeds demands broader strips the soil is generally prepared 

 to a breadth of i J to 2 feet and in rows 3 to 4 or at most 5 feet 

 apart ; patches are usually i to 2 feet square and about 4 feet 

 apart. On hilly situations the rows should run horizontally, 

 and not vertically, to prevent the seed being washed away. 

 Planting. The best results are obtained with transplants 

 from regular nurseries, although younger seedlings taken from 

 seeds beds, or wisps (three to five) from rills in temporary 

 nurseries, also at times find favour. Plants from two to five 

 years are usually put out, in preference to yearling seedlings, 

 as the planting of the latter often costs nearly as much as 

 if two-year-old plants be used, whilst the results are generally 

 not so good as with these. 



