54 SYLVICULTURE. 



and kinds of plants to be grown for annual output. One acre of nursery 

 will provide seed-beds and transplant lines for an annual output of about 

 66,000 2-year-2 plants, or enough to plant 22 acres at 4 x 4 feet (2722 per 

 acre) and give 10 per cent for filling blanks. If 2 -year Conifer seedlings only 

 are required, then from \ to 1 per cent of the area to be planted annually 

 will suffice ; while if 2-year-l and 2-year-2 transplants are needed, then 

 from 4 to 5 per cent of the annual area may be wanted for the nursery 

 (to allow of fallowing and green -manuring about one-fourth annually). 



4. For a new nursery, after any draining and levelling needed, the 

 ground should be trenched for 18 inches or more in depth, and the soil 

 well broken up and pulverised ; and by putting the surface-soil at the 

 bottom of the trench, expensive weeding is reduced to a minimum. 

 Where the soil is only 6 or 8 inches deep, it should be ploughed as deep 

 as possible, with a skim-coulter on the plough to skim off the surface 

 layer about two inches deep and turn it over into the bottom of the pre- 

 vious furrow. This makes the turf easier dealt with when the plants are 

 being laid, though it neither obviates trouble when digging with spades 

 nor prevents growth of weeds. 



5. Towards the end of April or early in May is soon enough to sow 

 most kinds of seed upon seed-beds whose soil has been thoroughly pul- 

 verised at least down to one spade's depth by repeated digging and raking ; 

 and the seed should be sown when the soil is quite friable and neither wet 

 nor dry. But seed of low germinative power should be sown as soon as 

 it ripens (Elm in June, and Birch in July or August). 



6. It is important to get good seed from healthy, middle-aged trees, and 

 its germinating power should be tested (with wet flannel or other test) 

 experimentally in advance, to know whether to sow thickly or thinly on 

 the seed-beds. 



7. The seed-beds should be about 3 ft. 9 in., or not over 4 ft. broad 

 though 3 ft. 9 in. is preferable, to permit of easy weeding without 

 tramping and injuring the plants. Seeds are sown in drills or broadcast 

 if very small (Birch, Alder, Elm, &c. ), while large seeds like acorns and 

 chestnuts are dibbled or sown singly. In sowing broadcast, after the 

 seed-beds have been lined off to a suitable length (25 ft.) and breadth, 

 part of the surf ace- soil is drawn with a fine iron rake to each side of the 

 bed, and a light roller is used to smooth the surface ; then the seed, pre- 

 viously moistened and rolled in red-lead powder to protect it against birds, 

 mice, and insects, is broadcast evenly over the bed, lightly covered with 

 the drawn soil by quickly raking over the bed, and pressed in by the 

 roller being again lightly passed over the surface. The soil-covering need 

 only be from ^ to ^ inch deep, a light, dry soil needing the thicker 

 covering to prevent the seedlings getting scorched during hot, dry weather 

 or being lifted by frost. 



