274 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



thick sod and sowing the seed on the overturned soil. In the case of unpre- 

 pared soil there were two methods, one of them being to sow seeds broad- 

 cast on the ground (which was covered with a light grass sod), the other 

 plan was to cover the seeds, sown on the unprepared ground, with a handful, 

 or more, of dirt which was carried in a pail for the purpose. 



The cost of this work naturally varies with the kind of spots. In all 

 cases these spots have been made under favorable circumstances, as regards 

 ground, cover, thus contributing to low cost. A careful examination of 

 the expenditures made and acreages planted indicates that $10 per acre 

 is about the average cost. 



In order to secure information upon which to base future work, careful 

 counts were made this summer of 2,231 seed spots made in 1906 and 1907 

 of various species. The accompanying illustrations give a much better 

 idea of the condition of the ground cover than can be done by description. 

 It also indicates the stakes, set at the end of each row of spots, upon which 

 were inscribed proper legends denoting the species used, kind of spots, date 

 of planting, and treatment of the seeds. All of the seeds were coated with 

 red lead before planting. 



The accompanying tabulation shows the results of our counting. 



The results show that on the average 3 5 per cent of the spots now have 

 trees. The spruces, larch and balsam are not desirable species for the work. 

 About 40 per cent of the white pine spots have trees. Bull pine, in one case, 

 shows 94 per cent of the spots growing trees with an average of over ten trees 

 in a spot. This is by far the best showing and is the only one that seems to 

 indicate the desirability of seed-spot planting. 



Experimental Work 



In order to test the desirability of planting young stock the following 

 aged species will be set in sample plots the coming spring: 



Type I. On sandy soil with no shade: 



White pine 2-year seedlings, 1 + 1 transplants, 2 + 1 transplants. 



Scotch pine 2-year seedlings, 1 + 1 transplants, 2 + 1 transplants. 



Red pine 2-year seedlings, 1 + 1 transplants, 2 + 1 transplants. 



Bull pine 2-year seedlings, 1 + 1 transplants, 2 + 1 transplants. 



