A :M E K I C A N SYLVICULTURE 



Paragraph XIV. Season for direct seeding. 



For Cottonwoods, Elms (excepting Eed or Slippery Elm), Soft 

 Maple and Mulberry, the best time of planting is nature's time, — 

 immediately after the fall of the seeds — in early summer. In the 

 case of the species enimierated, the period of rest is very short and 

 the seedlings starting rapidly have time to lignify before winter. 

 In all other cases the forester may plant either in fall or in spring. 

 Planting in winter is usually prevented by the condition of the soil. 



A. Planting in fall invites: 



I. Inroads of animals in winter. 



II. Washing of seed when snow melts. 



III. Damage from late frost, since planted seeds sprout early 

 in spring. 



B. Spring planting necessitates: 



I. Expense for seed storage over winter. 



II. Checks during storage, injurious to germinating percentage. 



III. Higher expense for planting, the work taking place at a 

 time when labor is scarce. 



Spring planting forms the rule, except with Fir, Beech, Chest- 

 nut, ^Ylnte Oak. 



In semi-tropical regions or places of periodical drought, the best 

 planting time is the fortnight preceding the rainy period. On dry 

 soil seeds are planted as early in spring as possible so as to profit 

 from the moisture left by melting snow. 



Seeds which naturally germinate 18 months after maturity 

 (Red Cedar, Hornbeam, some Ashes, some Basswoods) require strati- 

 fication: Place seeds, in dry soil, in a ditch ten inches deep and ten 

 inches wide, to a depth of five inches. Cover seeds with straw and 

 dry weeds, and finally with dirt. After the lapse of a year the 

 seeds are ready for planting. 



In the Rockies, and also on the Pacific Coa*t, fall seeding is 

 preferable to spring seeding. It has been found, however, that for 

 Wyoming and Eastern Montana the early spring, and that for 

 Arizona and Xew Mexico the summer are the most desirable periods 

 for direct seeding (R. Zon). 



Paragraph XV. Auxiliaries to direct seeding. 



A. Means to protect species needing shade in earliest 

 youth. 



I. Plant seeds with oats, barley or summer rye, planting the 

 grain in quantities not to exceed 75% of the normal. Cut grain 

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