SEEDING FOREST TREES. 85 



These seed-beds would always give the best result if 

 tlie mice did not destroy the seedlings in the second 

 winter by gnawing the young bark. This is difficult to 

 prevent unless the mice can be exterminated before win- 

 ter sets in, for the most damage is done during the 

 winter, under cover of snov/. 



If sown in spring the seed sprouts in from four to five 

 weeks, with the exception of acer campestre, which does 

 not make its appearance before the second year. Tlie 

 seed, wlien sown in spring, should not bj covered 

 more than half an inch, and the ground should be 

 shaded with leaves or straw to prevent the growth of 

 weeds. 



The bushel of air-dried Maple seed weighs about 15 

 pounds. If it sliould be determined upon to seed an acre 

 broadcast with Maples, two bushels, or about 30 pounds 

 of seed would be required, and for drill-seed about one- 

 half of this quantity. But for reasons given above it 

 will come seldom to this. The cover of broadcast sown 

 seed must be light, and should not be thicker than one- 

 half of an inch. 



(/) Seed-beds for Elms. 



The seeds are ripe in June, and can be kept, with 

 care, till next spring ; but it is better to sow them at 

 once. For this purpose the beds are in time prepared, and 

 the drill-rows (made in the same manner as for evergreen 

 seed-beds) entirely filled with seed, and thereupon lightly 

 covered, at most on'e half of an inch, with prepared 

 loose humus soil or compost. The beds being apt at that 

 season soon to become dry, it is necessary to water them 

 in the evenings, and to use a cover of straw or heaths 

 until the plants spring up. Usually this occurs from six 

 to eight days after sowing, but it may be retarded by the 

 season from two to three weeks. 



