'Z{}{) AHTli'RlAL I'OliMATloN OF WOODS. 



invented fur the purpose. Vi<^. '>'!, <i, h, r, shows three 

 diflerently shaped drills. The covering of the seed is done hy 

 hand, or with the rake, or by scattering fine earth, compost, 

 turf aslies, etc., over it to the required depth. In any case it 

 is desirable to press the covering down, best by passing a 

 light roller over the bed. 



Sowing should only be done during suitable weather, that 

 is to say when the soil is of the desired degree of dryness. 

 The actual method of sowing depends on the species. By 

 way of illustration some of the methods followed in Britain 

 are here added : — 



Heavy seeds, such as acorns, sircct ciicntiiKfs, icaliiiits, luirtiL-- 

 cJa'shiuts, etc., are generally sown in lines which are from 9 to 

 12 inclies apart. The seeds are either sown in drills about 2 

 inches deep and covered by earth drawn over them with a rake ; 

 or they are placed on the surface and then covered with earth 

 taken from the space between the rows. In the latter case 

 the seed rows form slightly elevated ridges. Seeds of the 

 above-mentioned kinds may either be sown in autumn soon 

 after being gathered, or they may be kept over winter in airy 

 places, where they are occasionally turned and perhaps also 

 mixed with some sand. 



BeccJntiits are treated similarly, but tlie covering should not 

 exceed | of an inch ; tliey are sown more frequently in spring 

 than in autumn. 



Maple seed is sown, soon after gathering, in lines as before, 

 mostly on the surface and covered with soil to a depth not 

 exceeding f of an inch. 



Elm seed is sown immediately after it has become ripe, at 

 the end of May or beginning of June, generally in lines about 

 a foot apart ; its covering should consist of line earth placed 

 over it of a thickness not exceeding \ of an inch. 



Aider seeds are generally sown broadcast in early spring, 

 and covered with j to ^ of an inch of fine mould. 



Bireh should be sown as soon as it ripens (beginning of 

 August), and covered with about .[ of an iiu-li of line mould. 



