AMERICAN SYLVICULTURE 



V. Flannel test: Place the seeds between two strips of flannel 

 kept moist by running their ends into a bowl of water standing at 

 a lower level. 



VI. Test in the commercial-test apparatus, which consists of a 

 bottom plate (glass or china), a bell-shaped top (same material) and 

 a clay disk containinng 100 small grooves, which fits into the bottom 

 plate. All three parts are open in the center. The clay disk is 

 burned in such a way as to retain good hygroscopic qualities, and is 

 boiled for a number of hours (in water) before using, to kill adher- 

 ent spores of fungi. Moist sand is kept between the disk and the 

 bottom plate. The grains of seed are inserted into the grooves. 



Paragraph XI. Preparations for direct seeding. 



The germinating bed must offer the seed a proper, constant and 

 equal supply of heat, oxygen and moisture. The actual amount of 

 heat, oxygen and moisture required has not been ascertained scien- 

 tifically. Observation in the woods is the best teacher of tlie condi- 

 tions securing the largest possible germinating percentage for any 

 given species. 



The preparation for seed-planting may extend over the eniire 

 area to be planted; or over certain strips which may be inter- 

 rupted or continuous; or it may merely involve the grubbing of 

 plots, or the stirring of spots. WTiere the ravages of game are 

 feared, it is advisable to work the soil irregularly, and not in a 

 geometric order. 



A. Removing the soil covers, such as briars, Kalmia, Cliin- 

 qviapin, mosses, dead leaves, humus. A plow and grubber (cultivator) 

 or a harrow can not be used usually for the purpose; the hoe (a 

 strong make) is largely used abroad; weeds are removed with brush 

 hooks or scythes or machetes or are, if possible, killed by deaden- 

 ing. In certain cases, an iron rake might do. Often it is necessary 

 to remove the cover by fire; fire, however, produces a heavy growth 

 of weeds on fertile soil (in Pisgah forest). 



B. lioosening tlie soil. Just after logging, the soil has 

 enough porosity to allow of the development of a second growth. 

 On abandoned fields or in prairies, thorough working with the plow, 

 often continued for a number of years, may or must precede the act 

 of planting. 



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