238 ELEMENTS OF STLVICULTUEE. 



thumb and forefinger, in order to distribute them 

 equally and in proper proportions. 



In every case it is proper to regulate the quantity 

 of seed used, so as to have no excess or deficiency at 

 the end of the operation. For this purpose the 

 ground and the total quantity of seed should be 

 divided into the same number of equal portions ; in 

 this manner the quantity sown is equally distributed 

 from the beginning. 



The seeds being scattered, it now remains to 

 cover them. This is done with a harrow, a rake, or 

 a bundle of thorns, according to the nature of the 

 seeds, the depth to which they must be covered, and 

 the method of cultivation employed. When the 

 harrow is used, the length of the teeth is regulated 

 by interlacing flexible twigs between them. The 

 depth to which the seeds ought to be covered varies 

 from one inch to the tenth of an inch according to 

 their size, the amount of moisture necessary for their 

 germination and the hardness of their pericarps. 



Occasionally the seeds are sown without cultivat- 

 ing the ground by any of the methods described 

 above. With a hoe or dibbler, holes of a certain 

 depth are made in the ground at regular intervals, 

 and one or two seeds are put into each, and covered 

 over with fine earth or pressed in with the foot. 

 This method is adopted when the quantity of seed 

 available is small, or when the object in view is to 

 restore a species in small blanks in the midst of 

 thickets of very young seedlings. 



QUANTITY OF SEED. The quantity of seed to be 

 used depends in the first place on its quality. To 

 ascertain whether the seeds are good, they are 



