150 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



ounces of seed were sown produced much better trees than where only six 

 ounces were used. However, more than eight ounces of seed did not seem 

 desirable, because they were stunted and suppressed; but the actual yield 

 was fully as good as from the bed where only six ounces of seed were sown. 

 This seed bed density reduces to a minimum the expense of weeding, and 

 permits a very close, careful attention being given to the plants without 

 materially increasing the cost per thousand. 



In our system of intensive culture we do not economize in either light 

 or soil if it produces an inferior quality. We have noticed that seedlings 

 on the outside edge of a seed bed are usually larger than those on the interior 

 portions of the bed. This can be overcome by building the bed with a 

 slightly convex surface, producing perfect drainage and an equalization of 

 light. 



In order to test the qualities of various fertilizers a series of experi- 

 ments was started. These were carried on in connection with the seed 

 beds, because young plants show the effect much sooner and more strik- 

 ingly; also because it was cheaper to treat small quantities of soil for seed 

 beds than large areas for transplants beds. A series of soil tests was started 

 in the spring of 1907. 



The year before, when taking up seedlings in the seed bed, it was 

 noticed there were occasional spots where the plants were fully twice as 

 large as in other places. A careful examination showed that these seed- 

 lings were thoroughly rooted into a bunch of muck, which was used in 

 fertilizing, but had not been properly worked into the bed. When this 

 soil test was started we used this fact as a base and made a bed four 

 feet wide and twelve feet long, with absolutely pure muck to a depth of 

 one foot. This bed was sown in equal parts to white pine, Scotch pine 

 and red spruce. 



Our seed beds were blocked in a rectangular form, six beds each way, 

 making thirty-six beds. We began at one end and fertilized a row of six 

 beds across with a very heavy coat of muck, applying at least six inches, all 

 over the bed. To the second set of six beds was applied a medium coat of 

 muck entirely over the bed, not less than three inches. The third row of 

 beds was left as a check. The fourth row of beds was covered with three 

 inches of muck and well-rotted barn manure. The fifth row of beds had a 



