48 BULLETIN 299, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTTJBE. 



rows which contain ash. About four cultivations a year will usually 

 be necessary for growing corn. Instead of planting ash seedlings, 

 seed spotting may sometimes be used on better sites in connection 

 with field crops. 



On the Indiana State Forest, a 3-year plantation of green ash on 

 upland, in which corn was grown the first two seasons, averaged a foot 

 higher and was in much thriftier condition for more rapid growth 

 than a 6-year old plantation on slightly better soil but not cultivated. 



DIRECT SOWING. 



The comparative cheapness of direct sowing makes it sometimes 

 advisable, instead of planting, where there are good chances of suc- 

 cess. The seed-spot method is the one to use: (1) For dibbling in 

 seed under the broken cover of a mature stand to be cut in a year or 

 two, with fair soil moisture conditions; (2) for sowing on cut-over 

 areas free from undergrowth immediately following clean cutting of 

 the mature stand, on good moist loamy soil; and (3) for sowing on 

 cleared land, such as pastures, which it is not possible to prepare by 

 ploughing. A pound to two pounds of seed will easily sow an acre, 

 allowing 5 to 10 seed per spot and a close 4 by 4-foot spacing of spots, 

 which is advisable in direct sowing. The holes should be dug 8 to 

 12 inches square and 3 to 4 inches deep (with a mattock or heavy 

 turfing hoe), the soil broken up fine and lightly tamped down, the 

 seed put in and half an inch of fine earth sprinkled over it. If there 

 is any sod this can be placed, grass side down, around the edge of the 

 hole so as form a sort of trench to hold moisture. The cost of seed- 

 spotting, including seed, should not average over $4 per 1,000 spots, 

 which is equivalent to $10.89 per acre for 4 by 4 spacing, $6.97 for 

 5 by 5 spacing, $4.84 for 6 by 6 spacing, $3.56 for 7 by 7 spacing, and 

 $2.72 for 8 by 8 spacing. 



Methods to use on prepared ground are: (1) Ploughing area, 

 broadcasting 3 to 4 pounds of seed per acre, and harrowing it in; 

 (2) seed-spotting at 4 to 6 foot intervals in ploughed furrows 4 to 6 

 feet apart. The total per acre cost would be about the same in both 

 cases, $5 to $10 per acre. 



THINNINGS. 



Thinnings in crowded stands should be made an important feature' 

 in the management of ash (PI. XIII). It is an intolerant but per- 

 sistent tree, developing very rapidly in height, when crowded, at 

 expense of diameter growth, resulting in spindling trees with short 

 narrow crowns and long slim boles (PL VIII, fig. 2). It is, however, 

 very responsive to thinnings made to increase its diameter growth 

 (PI.' XI, fig. 1). 



