76 FOREST PLANTING. 



ground to the seed for germination. The seed (in tbe 

 proportion of about 20 to 30 pounds of wifiged seed to the 

 acre) is then evenly and plentifully strewn Into the furrows 

 and covered loosely — not more than one half of an inch — 

 with well-burnt sod ashes, mixed with some sand, or with 

 compost. Good, fine humus soil taken from the woods may 

 also be used, though this is apt to favor the growth of 

 weeds between the plants — something that always should 

 be avoided. A cover of clayey soil should never be ap- 

 pHed, this being conducive to form, from rain or water- 

 ing, a crust which prevents the seedlings from freely 

 breaking through the surface. 



To ward off birds, especially wild pigeons, from 

 damaging the seedlings by eating the tops as soon as they 

 appear above the ground, it is necessary to cover the beds 

 with dry sedges and boughs — pines preferred, as spruce 

 and hemlock drop the leaves too readily — ^until the leaves 

 of the young plants have developed and thrown o£E the 

 tops. In a dry season it is necessary to carefully water 

 the beds in order to assist in the uniform sprouting of 

 the germs ; but great care should be exercised to prevent 

 the soil from becoming crusted. Weeds should be en- 

 tirely eradicated, and the ground between the drills well 

 stirred up, a work which requires hut little labor, if 

 done in time. After every good weeding the drills should 

 be filled up with some compost. Weeding and stirring 

 the soil of the seed-beds should be entirely omitted late 

 in fall, otherwise frost will hurt the seedlings. In the 

 second year the young plants must, whenever the soil had 

 been stirred up, be covered at the roots with some earth. 

 After the lapse of two years — or if very strong 

 plants are desired — after three years the seedlings are 

 ready for transplanting, those of the common pine, 

 white pine and larch being already, after one year's 

 growth, fit for this operation. In the mountains the 

 young plants are exposed to greater hardships than on 



