42 BULLETIN 1061, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



The simplest method of sowing is to broadcast the seed over the 

 natural grass land. From 2 to 4 pounds of seed per acre is believed 

 to be about the right amount. After the sowing, if the land is clear 

 enough to permit it, a spike-tooth or spring-tooth harrow should be 

 run over it for the purpose of working the seed down to the soil. 

 In this grass the seed will generally settle in the openings sufficiently 

 to come close to mineral soil, and be afforded partial shade and pro- 

 tection against extremes of heat and moisture. A light ground 

 cover, such as one season's growth of grass, is generally favorable 

 to the establishment of the seedlings. A heavy covering of grass, 

 fine leaves ("straw"), or oak litter, which might not keep the seed 

 from germinating, would, however, prevent many of the seedlings 

 from becoming established. Another method of sowing that has 

 given fair results in loose, "black jack" soil, consists of drilling in 

 the seed with an ordinary corn planter or seed drill. The drill should 

 be low-built and strong, and preferably of the type that passes every 

 seed in plain view of the operator. A bull-tongue or a scraper may 

 be used, depending upon the character of the soil. A quiet, steady 

 animal, needless to say, is desirable, on account of roots and other 

 obstructions. The seed should be barely covered, not in excess of 

 one-quarter of an inch. A modified and usually more expensive 

 method wiuld be to drop and cover about 10 to 15 seed in a prepared 

 "hill " or seed spot, using a hoe or a mattock much as in planting a 

 garden. Several furrows may be run, and the seed may be sown 

 broadcast over the area and brushed or harrowed in. 



The aim should be to get trees growing at regular intervals of 

 about 8 to 10 feet, or from 680 to 430 trees per acre. Because of the 

 inevitable loss of some seed and seedlings from various causes, there 

 will be a better chance of a good stand at, say, 10 years of age if more 

 than 680 trees are started. Until further knowledge is available re- 

 garding methods of starting young longleaf stands, it will be desir- 

 able to make small-scale test sowings under different methods, with 

 such variation as may seem advisable to suit local conditions, in order 

 to determine which is most suitable for more extensive operations. 



During the fall of 1920, a large sawmill concern in Louisiana 

 collected about 4,000 pounds of seed of longleaf pine and also some 

 seed of other species. It was obtained in part from dried cones 

 ("burrs") picked from trees felled in logging, but mostly by the 

 cheaper and more satisfactory method of gathering up cones that 

 had opened on the ground after falling, and shaking the seeds out 

 into a pan or tub. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the price 

 paid to the collectors was 50 cents per pound. The seed was sown 

 broadcast, part on plowed strips spaced 8 feet apart, each made up 

 of several furrows and afterwards harrowed to work the seed in, and 



