12 The Nursery 



Speaking generally, a too thick sowing results in a proportionate 

 decrease in the number of seedlings obtained. 



The time left in the seed bed will also vary according to the 

 season (whether favourable or not), the thickness of the plants 

 obtained, and the species. For most conifers, two years is the 

 common rule, although they are sometimes moved at one year. 



The distance apart of the transplant lines will also vary, as will 

 the number of plants planted per yard lineal. 



As the proprietor is not growing for sale, he is advised to allow 

 too much room rather than too little, as a stronger plant is obtained. 



Conifers, except larch, require less room than broad-leaved 

 trees, and may be placed in lines nine to ten inches apart, and twelve 

 to sixteen plants per yard ; larch and broad-leaved trees, ten inches 

 between the lines, and nine to twelve plants to the yard. 



Weeding the seed bed is a very necessary operation in the earlier 

 stages of the seedlings ; it must be done carefully at intervals during 

 the summer. The number of times it is necessary to do this during 

 the season will depend on the weather and on the soil. If the 

 sowing is too thick, it is advisable to cut off the superfluous plants 

 close to the ground rather than to pull them out, otherwise the roots 

 of the other seedlings might be disturbed by their removal. 



It is sometimes advisable, in broadcast sowing, when the 

 seedlings are too close together, to lift about half of them. This is 

 done in alternate strips about six inches wide, so as to leave undis- 

 turbed strips of seedlings of about the same width. The object of 

 this is to supply an increased amount of light and air to the 

 seedlings remaining in the bed. 



On most soils in this country watering is not often necessary ; 

 when imperative, the ground should be well soaked, as, in times of 

 drought, a superficial sprinkling does more harm than good. 



Frost-lifting sometimes causes great loss among seedlings. It 

 is caused by alternate freezing and thawing of the surface of the 

 ground, which results in what is commonly termed " throwing the 

 seedlings out of the ground." It is specially dangerous in early 

 spring, on account of the rapid alternations of frost and thaw 

 which often prevail at that period. 



