20 THE FOREST TREE CULTURIST. 
above ground, also by being protected from the cold the 
first winter, consequently it is best to sow the seeds of 
these in small beds, say four feet wide and as long as 
required. Around these beds set up boards a foot or ore 
in width, fastening them with stakes or by nailing them 
together at the corners, and by placing cross-bars every 
four feet along their length. The soil in these beds should 
be made fine and rich, and raked level before the seeds are 
sown. Sow in drills six inches apart, or broad-cast, and 
rake in. After sowing, put on the screen, which may be 
of coarse matting, or evergreen boughs, or, what is better, 
one made with laths. These lath screens should be long 
enough to lie cross-wise of the frames, and about three or 
—— 
Fig. 2. 
four feet wide. (Fig. 2 shows an inclosed seed-bed cover- 
ed with a lath screen.) Ifthe seed-bed is not over four feet 
wide, one length of common lath will cover it cross-wise ; 
then by nailing a narrow strip of board across the ends 
of the lath, your frame screen will be complete. The laths 
should be placed one to two inches apart; this will allow 
plenty of light to reach the soil, but not enough to injure 
the plants; it will also allow the rain to find access to the 
beds. These lath screens are the most convenient, cost but 
