88 FOREST PLANTING. 



the bam, and thrash them in spring. At all events there 

 should be used for seeding only fresh seed, as the germ- 

 inating power of most of the varieties lasts not longer 

 than one year. 



Birches and Alder-trees copse very well, and are in 

 this way especially regenerated wherever this is practi- 

 cable and advisable. This is principally the case with 

 the Alder-tree, as it grows in from twenty to thirty 

 years to a pretty large tree. The Birches do not grow 

 so quickly, but attain later a very respectable circum- 

 ference. 



Seeding on a large scale gives, especially with Birches, 

 almost always good results.* The soil, which usually 

 will be of a light kind, should not be loosened too much, 

 and the seed only slightly covered with the brush-har- 

 row. For broadcast seeding there are required from 20 

 to 30 pounds per acre. Seeding in drills is seldom em- 

 ployed, but should it be determined upon, one-third of 

 the seed used in broadcast seeding at least is spared. 

 Birches are especially serviceable for the protection of 

 Oaks when cultivated on a large scale. In such cases 10 



*T1i1b I can Tecommend from my own experience. I recall an 

 instance where a large tract of cleared wood-land with poor, gravely 

 soil had been cultivated with crops for several years, and was then laid 

 to rest. Soon it became covered with coarse grasses and small bnshes. 

 At the end of one summer this tract was burnt over and prepared for 

 spring seeding. Next spring oats were sown and properly plowed in 

 and harrowed. Some days later cleansed birch seed, about 15 pounds to 

 the acre, was sown broadcast over the oats, and lightly covered with 

 the brush-harrow. The result was surprisingly successful. The birch 

 seedlings, coming up much later than the oats, were, during the summer, 

 protected against the sun and kept back, so that at harvest-time the 

 young plants were not hurt by the cradle. After the removal of the 

 oats from the field, the birch seedlings received a new start, and entered 

 well prepared into the winter season. Seedlings were so numerous that 

 two years later a great many plants were taken up, and used for setting 

 out a coppice plantation. The expense of the whole operation was 

 fully covered by a rich oats crop. 



