56 BULLETIN 47!i. U. S. HKI'AHTMF.XT nK AGRICULTURE. 



a trench; the "Michigan board" only with trenches which are con- 

 structed . l>y excavating the soil. A single "Mast board" is better 

 adapted for use with all sizes of seedlings, if they are of uniform 

 development, than a single "Michigan board." With the "Mast 

 board" the most efficient man for trenching, threading, and trans- 

 planting can be detailed to those duties, while with the "Michigan 

 board" each man performs all of the operations. When the " Mast 

 board" is used with seedlings which are not of even development, 

 the smaller ones get displaced easily or lost out or, in the process of 

 tamping the dirt around the roots, are pulled down too deeply into 

 the trench. With both boards there is some danger of pulling the 

 tops off the seedlings as they are released, but this is more pro- 

 nounced with the " Michigan " than with the " Mast board." Under 

 the greatest variety of conditions it seems that the " Mast board " is 

 preferable to the " Michigan." Where the danger of drying out the 

 roots of the seedlings is very great, the " Michigan board " should 

 prove the better of the two. Using either board an efficient crew can 

 average from 4,000 to 5,000 plants per day per man, and a record 

 as high as 8,500 plants has been made at the Uinta Nursery with a 

 board of the Mast type. 



The " Yale board " is a modification of the Mast board, differing 

 from it principally in that the slat which holds the seedlings in place 

 is attached to the two hinged handles. The slat swings over to rest 

 against the seedlings in much the same manner as when leather 

 hinges are used with the "Mast board." The Yale type of board 

 used at the Savenac Nursery is provided with spring clamps which 

 press the slat against the seedlings and make knobs or buttons un- 

 necessary. These clamps are conducive to greater speed in the trans- 

 planting operation. The two-men crews using these boards average 

 12,000 trees per man per day at this nursery. 



Another board which is cheap, efficient, and used extensively is 

 made simply by tacking a thin hardwood strip 2 or 3 inches wide 

 on the flat undersurface of a 5 or 6 inch board, so that its edge will 

 project about an inch beyond the edge of the wider board. In this 

 projecting edge notches are cut to receive the seedlings. When 

 threaded, the seedlings are held in place by means of strong elastic 

 twine stretched in front of them from one end of the board to the 

 other. 



Planting boards are usually G feet long, to conform to the most 

 common width of transplant beds. At the Converse Flats Nursery 

 boards 8 feet long and at the Savenac Nursery boards 8| feet long 

 are used. At the latter nursery the rows run lengthwise, and the 

 greater length of board is quite advantageous. 



