16 BULLETIN 4, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



fall germinated from 5 to 12 days earlier than seed sown in the spring 

 on top of the snow or on a saturated soil just as the last snow of the 

 season disappeared. With species having thick, hard, and more im- 

 permeable seed coats than grasses, as in the case of clovers, there was 

 much more difference in the time of germination. In some few situ- 

 ations the seed, both of clover and grasses, sown in spring tided over 

 to the following spring, when good germination was secured. With 

 such delayed germination much of the seed is consumed by birds and 

 rodents or removed by the wind and other agencies. 



Both the root development and the aerial growth of the plants 

 originating from autumn-sown seed was about double that of plants 

 from seed sown in the spring. The significance of this fact appears 

 in a heavy and relatively early loss of seedlings from spring sowing 

 due to drought. In many situations the difference in the depth of 

 the root system resulting from autumn and spring seeding has 

 resulted in a satisfactory stand on the one hand and complete failure 

 on the other. 



It may be definitely stated from the results obtained that in the 

 Wallowa Mountains spring seeding, except possibly in the situations 

 where the soil is well supplied with moisture throughout the season 

 and where the seed may decay if allowed to lie dormant for a long 

 period, has no advantages over autumn seeding. On the other hand, 

 spring sowing has grave disadvantages. The seed germinates late 

 and over a long period ; much of it is lost owing to delayed germina- 

 tion; the seedlings are shallowly rooted and are liable to serious 

 injury from drought; and superabundant moisture interferes with 

 cultural methods of planting. 



By sowing in the autumn the above difficulties are virtually elim- 

 inated. Seed should not be sown so early in the autumn that it will 

 germinate before winter. If it germinates in the fall the little seed- 

 lings are likely to succumb to drought, if the season is dry, or their 

 growth is so slight that little reserve food is stored in their roots, 

 and the plants make only a weak growth the following spring. 

 Where winters are severe it is best to sow after vegetative growth 

 ceases and before the heavy winter snows begin. Then the seed will 

 be protected by the snow until the time of germination. 



ADVANTAGES OF THOKOUGH PLANTING. 



In order to know which of the inexpensive methods of soil treat- 

 ment used will give the most satisfactory results in reseeding it was 

 highly important to secure definite information as to the density 

 of the seedling stands secured on the various plots. The difference 

 in the abundance of seedlings was evident on some of the plots, or 

 on parts of them, by mere observation, but to get definite compari- 



