98 The Farm Woodlot 



ARTIFICIAL REGENERATION 



The artificial formation of woods is accomplished by 

 direct seeding, by planting of seedlings or cuttings and by 

 a combination of both. The methods of seed-sowing and 

 of planting may now be considered. 



Direct seeding, or sowing of seed 

 The success of direct seeding depends on the nature of 

 the sowing, whether broadcast or in specially prepared 

 spots called seed-spots, and the character of the soil- 

 cover on the area to be sown. Direct seeding has many 

 serious drawbacks. The high cost of seed and the un- 

 certainty of good results in broadcast seeding have made 

 the method an expensive one when practiced in the 

 United States. Seeding in seed-spots is very much 

 more economical and has given better results, for reasons 

 to be pointed out farther on. The sowing of seed is 

 advisable only when conditions are most favorable to 

 the species of trees. Among these conditions may be 

 mentioned the natural range, the soil and moisture, selec- 

 tion of seed and preparation of the soil. 



Natural range. — Every species has a different range 

 or territory, in which it is growing naturally. It is con- 

 fined to this territory because the climate and soil condi- 

 tions are there best suited to its growth, while the con- 

 ditions elsewhere are either directly unfavorable or so 

 much better suited to some other species that it is crowded 

 out. Naturally the best growing trees are the most de- 

 sirable for a plantation. To know that a locality is in 

 the range of a desired species is not sufficient to determine 

 the adaptability of that locality to sowing seed of that 



