AMOUNT TO SOW 133 



Where the sowing is on unprepared soil the ground must be loose, 

 the seed must be cheap, and the growth of the species sown rapid, so 

 that it can protect itself against the weeds. The best example of suc- 

 cessful broadcast sowing on unprepared soil is the sowing of maritime 

 pine seed on the sand dunes of the Landes and Gascogne. Another 

 well-known example is on the Central Plateau where Scotch pine has 

 been successfully sown without any advance soil preparation. Occa- 

 sionally, the sowing has been followed by sheep grazing, in order that 

 the sheep may eat out the heather and let the seeds get to the soil. 

 The hoofs of the sheep cover the seed sufficiently, but failures following 

 this method are even more frequent than successes. According to my 

 original notes, 



"At Cleremont-Ferrand in the Central Plateau Scotch pine region one of my 

 friends mentioned a former method used for the cheap artificial stocking of Scotch 

 pine by broadcast sowing. The seed was sown plentifully in the fall and during the 

 winter rains sheep were allowed to trample the seed into the sod. The results I saw 

 were very good, but I found no one who had practiced it himself." 



Sowing without soil preparation outside the Landes is best justified 

 on rocky soil in the mountains, at the foot of cliffs — in other words, 

 where cultivation is impossible. If the soil is fresh and there is no fear 

 of mice and grass, broadcast sowing is often successful after snowfall 

 (see p. 136) or on the bare soil. One advantage is that it can be done 

 when other work is impossible. When sowing on rocky ground the 

 seed should be thrown up hill from below so that it will get some pro- 

 tection under the rocks. Where there is danger of erosion, broad- 

 casting should not be attempted. 



There are a number of short-cut sowing methods which find favor in 

 France and which are well known in the United States, such as hoeing 

 the soil and covering the seed; dibbling to complete regeneration; at 

 high altitudes, where the ground is fresh and where regular cultivation 

 is impossible or difficult, the dibbling or cane method of sowing (see 

 p. 167) may be advisable. 



On the whole, these special broadcasting or planting methods are 

 justified only where made necessary by peculiar conditions and rarely 

 are as successful as really thorough soil preparation. 



Amount to Sow. — The amount of seed to use naturally varies with 

 the soil, slope, and local climate, and also, of course, with the size of 

 the seed, quality, method, and season of planting. The amount sown 

 must be increased if there are droughts, frost, or mammals to allow for 

 prospective losses. 



The sowing figures used by the French foresters are shown in the 

 following table (after Boppe) : 



