102 The Farm Woodlot 



has exhausted its vitality or become dry and consequently 

 has been killed. Leaf litter when thoroughly decomposed 

 and mixed with the soil is a perfect fertilizer, but in any 

 other form it is merely a soil cover. When the leaf litter 

 is not too thick, it may be sufficiently broken with a 

 drag to enable the seeds to reach the soil. Cattle or sheep 

 may trample it sufficiently to accomplish the same 

 purpose. In cases in which fire will not harm any tree 

 growth, this litter may be burned when thoroughly dry. 

 Great precaution must be maintained to confine the fire 

 ,to a small area at a time and never allow it to run beyond 

 control. 



Preparation of land. — In practically every case, nat- 

 ural forest land will need some preparation before seed- 

 ing is done. The method of treating the soil is a matter 

 for the farmer or owner to decide. It should always be 

 done in the most economical manner, yet with thorough- 

 ness. A spring- or peg-tooth harrow is an effective imple- 

 ment when it can be used. A drag of any sort that will tear 

 up the soil will be sufficient. Even a tree top with some 

 heavy, strong limbs will serve as a rather effective drag. 

 Whatever sort of implement is used, the operation should 

 be continued until the soil is in proper condition to receive 

 the seed. The trampling of cattle at certain times of 

 the year, especially in early spring, may break up the 

 surface layer of soil sufficiently. In small special areas, 

 the plow may be used and the ground prepared as for 

 grain crops. In every case the seedling must fasten 

 its roots very early in life in the mineral soil in order 

 that growth may continue. 



There is no special secret in the preparation of land 



