CHAPTER XIV. 
PROPAGATION OF CONIFERS FROM SEED. 
In the climate of the United States, so much skill 
and care are necessary in raising Coniferous trees 
from seed, that a separate article is required for its 
consideration. The method described below is mainly 
that practiced by Robert Douglas, of Waukegan, IIli- 
nois, the most extensive and successful grower of 
seedling conifers in America, who, with great kind- 
ness and liberality, has explained to me his mode of 
operation, and furnished much valuable information 
which could hardly have been obtained elsewhere. 
The soil most suitable for raising Conifers from 
seed, is a light, sandy loam, which should be prepared 
as finely as possible. A soil that is tenacious should 
have its surface well mixed with sand or vegetable 
mould. Beds are then laid out, four feet wide, with 
a space of one foot between. These beds are slightly 
raised in the middle, the sides being but little higher 
than the alleys, and are raked quite smooth and fine. 
Along the sides of the beds, stakes are driven at con- 
yenient distances, to which narrow boards are nailed, 
