RAISING PLANTS IN NT^RSERIES. 201 



The seeds of aali, honiJx'uiii, and tJtorit are mixed with sand 

 and kept from 15 to 18 months in a pit, where they are 

 occasionally moistened and turned. They are sown in early 

 spring of the second year, together with the sand in which 

 they rested ; they receive a covering not exceeding j of an 

 inch. 



The seeds of lai-cJi, spmce, Scotch inne, and various other 

 conifers are sown broadcast or in drills in spring on carefully 

 prepared beds. They are sown on the surface and then 

 covered with fine earth ; frequently the process consists in 

 scraping a sufficient quantity of soil from the surface of the 

 bed to both edges, then sowing the seed and raking back the 

 earth from the sides towards the centre of the bed. After 

 thoroughly smoothing the surface, a light roller is passed 

 over the bed. 



k. Qudliiij and Qvantitij of Sml. 



Considering the heavy expenditure involved in laying out 

 nurseries, none but seed of the best quality should be used. 



The quantity of seed to be sown on a given area depends on 

 the species and the time during which the seedlings are to 

 remain in the seed bed. Too dense sowing causes the 

 seedlings to grow up lank}', while too thin sowing involves 

 loss of area and consequently increases the cost. If the 

 seedlings are to go direct from the seed bed into the forest, 

 the quantity of seed should be about one-half of that sown 

 when the seedlings are to be pricked out in the nursery. 



As to the actual quantity of seed to be sown, views differ so 

 considerably, that it is not possible to give average data. In 

 a nursery at Inverness,* the following quantities of good clean 

 seed are sown per 100 square feet of seed bed : — 



Scotch pine = -Q pound. 



Spruce . . . . . . = '6 ,, 



Austrian pine = "8 ,, 



Larch . . ' . . . = I'O ,, 



* Messrs. Howden & Co.'s Nurseiy. 



