Practical Sylviculture ' 113 



from weeds and stones and well drained. A nursery- 

 location in which the soil is poor may readily be made 

 suitable by improving the soil and preparing as for a 

 garden. The average sized farm-woodlot does not call 

 for a great many seedlings at any one time, so that when 

 only a few thousand seedlings are required, a part of the 

 vegetable garden may oftentimes be set aside for this 

 purpose. When this is not practicable, the site should be 

 chosen in which there is no danger of disturbance from 

 the farm stock, from rabbits and mice, and as far from bird 

 attractions as possible. Usually water is necessary at 

 some time of the growing season, so that the water supply 

 should be near at hand in case of severe and prolonged 

 dry weather. 



Preparing the seed-beds. — There need be no difference 

 whatever in the preparation of the soil for growing seed- 

 lings from that of an onion or a lettuce bed. When it is 

 not practicable to plow the ground, it may be spaded and 

 thoroughly raked and the soil pulverized and- reduced to a 

 smooth surface. The most satisfactory width for seed- 

 beds is four feet. This enables one to reach readily all 

 parts of the bed for weeding and transplanting purposes 

 and also to use ordinary building lath for shade screens. 

 The seed-beds may be any length. When several beds 

 are made up side by side, there should be a path two feet 

 wide between them, and if the ground is sloping, the beds 

 should run at right angles to the slope. If the soil is rich 

 and inclined to be moist, the beds should be raised about 

 four or more inches above this path. On dry or sandy 

 soil, the beds should be on the same level as the path. 

 The laying-out of the seed-beds may be such as to suit 



