BRITISH 1-oKKST TK1 ES 251 



of oak, alder, willows, or aspen, or on moist places in beech 

 seed-fellings, the soil is prepared either in strips, or, especially 

 in the latter case, in small patches by means of the rake ; 

 the surface-growth is removed and the upper soil lightly 

 mixed, then the seed is sown in the proportion of about 

 thirty pounds per acre actually operated on. Passing 

 over the strips or patches lightly with the rake gives the 

 seeds the thin covering of soil, which is most favourable 

 to their germination. 



Planting of the ash, either as naked seedlings or trans- 

 plants of almost any size, is easy, as the plants establish 

 themselves readily when put out. In moist frosty localities 

 it succeeds best when carried out under shelter, as for example 

 under alder poles a few years before their clearance, so that 

 the young ash may have a few years' growth in advance 

 of the future flush of quick-growing coppice-shoots : the 

 assortments then used are either healthy seedlings, or trans- 

 plants from the nursery. Although the ash can stand trim- 

 ming of the rootlets and sprays better than most other 

 species, this operation is seldom necessary, owing to the 

 simplicity of planting in the loose, soft soil ; the methods 

 adopted are much the same as with the elm, and the maple, 

 that is to say, generally notching and pit-planting with the 

 hand. The production of seedlings in nurseries takes place- 

 on beds having a fair supply of soil-moisture, transplants be- 

 ing pricked out as one or two-year-olds at distances varying 

 from 9" x 9" up to 12" x 1 2", and care being taken to supply 

 more growing space for the older and larger classes of trans- 

 plants by the preliminary removal of every alternate plant. 



