Ififi 



AKTIFiriAL FORMATION OF WOODS. 



'■. Sorri/ii/ ill Holes, or liibhlimj. 



Sowing ill holes means sowing in patches of such Hniited 

 extent that only a few seeds are sown in each. The soil may 

 he worked with an ordinary hoe of small size, with a spade or 

 with specially constructed modifications of tlie latter, such as 

 the siim-cd spath- (Fig. 38). On stony soil the pick may he 

 used. The spiral spade is forced into the ground and then 

 turned round, so that a seed hole filled with loose soil is 

 produced. The seed is either pressed 

 into the soil to the required depth, 

 or placed on the surface and covered 

 hy hand with a sufficient quantity of 

 fine earth, which is gently pressed 

 down. 



If the seed hed is still smaller and 

 consists simply of a narrow hole sufficient 

 to take one or two seeds, which are 

 sown without any preparation of the 



fsoil, the method is called " ilih]>}iit;i." 

 The minute holes are made with a peg, 

 dihbling mallet, dibbling spade, or any 

 other suitable tool. The instrument is 

 inserted into the ground to the required 

 depth, withdrawn, the seed placed in 

 the opening thus produced, and the latter closed again 

 either by one or more blows with the instrument, or by 

 pressure with the foot. In some cases the operation may 

 l)e done without any instrument at all, by removing a 

 small (luantity of the surface soil with the foot, inserting 

 the seed, replacing the previously removed eaith. and pressing 

 it down. 



The luelhod is only admissible on soils wliicli are not 

 subject to a heavy growth of weeds, which would probably 

 smother the young seedlings ; moderately sized stones or 

 gravel do not interfere with the adoption of the method. 



Fijr. 3S. 



