118 FOKESTRY WOEK 



When the seed is to be sown in drills on ploughed land, 

 an ordinary turnip drill can be adapted for the purpose 

 by dispensing with some of the cups in the revolving 

 bar. 



A very useful machine is made by the Planet, Junr., 

 firm, which will either sow seed in lines or will deposit 

 a small quantity of seed at intervals of 2 inches, 4 inches, 

 8 inches, 12 inches, or 24 inches. Although it is really 

 intended for garden seeds, of sizes varying from beans 

 to carrot seed, it can be regulated to place about four 

 Scots Pine seeds in each heap. The seed must be very 

 clean, otherwise a small stick will block the aperture 

 through which the seed passes. 



If it is set to place four seeds every 12 inches in lines 

 2 feet apart, there will be roughly 88,000 seeds sown per 

 acre. As there are 75,000 seeds in 1 pound of Scots 

 Pine seed, this works out at nearly 1J pounds per acre. 

 If there is only one strong seedling in each clump after 

 germination, this will mean 22,000 plants per acre. The 

 struggle for existence will begin at an early age, and the 

 weaklings in each group soon suppressed. 



The machine can be set to bury seed at any depth 

 down to 2 inches, and has a small roller behind to firm 

 the soil slightly. 



This method of sowing can be adopted in combination 

 with the sowing of Oats, but the latter must be sown 

 broadcast first. 



A combination of sowing and planting is sometimes 

 practised with success. Acorns and Chestnuts are sown 

 on prepared strips 14 or 15 feet apart, and the spaces 



