104 Forest Club Annual 



ment of the soil in this manner gave an excellent medium for 

 the development of good root systems. Before any seed sow- 

 ing was done a "Pettis style" shade frame was made for each 

 bed. The height of the frame above the ground was eighteen 

 inches ; wire screening with one-fourth inch mesh was used and 

 the top part of the frame was constructed so that it could be 

 taken off easily. The purpose of these frames is to keep out 

 rodents and to reduce evaporation. The seed sowing was done 

 at the beginning of the rainy season. Each seed bed was levelled 

 with a rake, then thoroughly soaked, after which the soil was 

 tamped to make the surface level. The seed was weighed in 

 order that equal amounts would be sown in each bed. The amount 

 varied from a half a pound to a pound per bed depending upon 

 the age of the seed, but was based on the number of seed per 

 pound, and the germination per cent, which had been previously 

 determined. The seed was sown in drills one inch wide and four 

 inches apart, and then covered to a depth equal to the thickness 

 of the seed. The bed was then tamped lightly, sprinkled, and 

 pieces of wet burlap were spread over the surface; later the top 

 part of the frame was fitted on. The seed beds were watered 

 every day excepting rainy ones during the germination period. 

 Since the rainy season during the past year started much later 

 than usual, considerable artificial watering was necessary. Be- 

 cause of the prevalence of the "damping off" disease, care was 

 taken that too much water was not applied. It was necessary to 

 water and weed the beds only occasionally during the remainder 

 of the summer. In the fall the seed beds were mulched with 

 pine needles in order to prevent "heaving out" of the seedlings. 



The transplant beds were prepared by spading up the soil 

 to a depth of about fourteen inches, the large clods being broken 

 up with a rake. Then the beds were raked smooth, properly 

 levelled off and then heavily watered. Before the transplanting 

 was started a burlap shelter was constructed, which was used in 

 the "threading operation/' Seedlings were dug up from the 

 seed beds and placed in a pail filled with puddled soil. A crew 

 of four men, two operating the transplant boards, one making 

 the trench with the trencher and one threading the transplant 

 boards, were necessary for transplanting. After the transplant- 

 ing was finished the beds were watered. Whenever necessary 

 they were weeded, and cultivated with a rake. 



Below in tabular form is given the approximate cost per 

 thousand of raising 1^1 Western Yellow Pine transplants in 



