RAISING TREES FROM SEED. 29 



hoe drawn along by the side of a line for a guide. The 

 depth of the trench must be varied according to the size 

 and kind of seed to be sown, For maple, ash, locust, 

 and similar kinds one-half inch of soil is sufficient cover- 

 ing, but the larger nuts should be covered a little deeper. 

 Judgment should be used in all cases, and the depth of 

 covering be varied not only with the size of the seed but 

 with the nature of the soil. If this is light and sandy, 

 or contains so much vegetable matter that it does not 

 become compact, and the surface hard after heavy rains, 

 the seeds may be covered deeper than in one of an op- 

 posite character. 



On sowing in what are termed double trenches or nar- 

 row beds, a trench a foot wide and of proper depth is 



Fig. 2. THE TREE DIGGER. 



opened, the soil being thrown upon one or both sides. 

 The seeds are then scattered on the bottom of the trench, 

 and the soil drawn back over them. 



The wide drills should be three or four feet apart, or 

 at sufficient distance to admit of pruning and cultivation 

 between them, and to give room for workmen to pass 

 when hoeing and weeding the plants. Frequent stirring 

 of the soil between the rows with plow and cultivator dur- 

 ing the summer materially increases the growth of the 

 plants, as well as facilitates the emission of side or 



