52 BULLETIN 308, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
orable. In dry, loose soil ight pressure with the hoe, mattock blade, — 
or shoe sole will aid in checking excessive drying of the surface layer. | 
In order to secure good germination nothing is better than to scatter — 
a half inch or so of fine leaf litter or humus over the surface in addi- — 
tion to the light firming of the mineral soil. A handful of partly | 
decomposed “ pine straw ” will answer this purpose very well. Early 
spring is probably the most favorable time for seed sowing, although 
good results may be expected from fall sowing if the seed is not mo- 
lested by animals. Fresh seeds will germinate in 15 to 30 days, vary- | 
ing with local climatic conditions. 
A spacing of 6 by 6 feet for the seed spots, or 1,210 per acre, is con: _ 
sidered about right to provide for a density during early life close | 
enough to stimulate rapid height growth. Regular spacing is not 
always possible, especially if the tract to be sown contains scattered — 
trees and bushes. A spacing of 8 by 8 feet may be used but does not © 
give quite the desired form development; and closer spacing, for © 
example, 4 by 4 feet, is objectionable, chiefly on account of the addi- — 
tional expense and the need for earlier thinning when the product is — 
insufficient to pay for the labor. Losses of seedlings in considerable — 
numbers because of fungi and animals may be expected during the ~ 
first one or two years even if protection is afforded. At least 15 to 20 — 
seeds should be sown on each seed spot, allowing for a germifiation of 
40 to 50 per cent for average seed, and the usual destruction of young _ 
seedlings during early life. It is desirable that by the end of the 
germination period each seed spot should contain from five to eight — 
thrifty seedlings. At this rate of sowing and spacing a little over — 
half a pound of seed will be required to sow an acre.t Sowing broad- — 
cast in plowed furrow strips will usually require a little more seed to — 
obtain the same stand per acre. 
Shortleaf pine bears seed abundantly at intervals of from one to ; 
three years. The collection of seed is a simple process and not ex- 
pensive. It is done to best advantage where logging is in progress. ¢ 
The cones are collected from the tops during a period of two to — 
five weeks prior to the time when they would naturally open on the 
tree. The seed is readily released by applying heat gradually to 
the cones spread on fine wire mesh, or by exposing them to the dry- 
ing action of the sun.’ 
Planting nursery-grown seedlings gives more uniform results than 
field sowing, but is generally more expensive. The seeds are sown in 
early spring in prepared and protected beds. Beds 4 by 12 feet * 
1 This allows for average well-cleaned seed. If the seed contains much cone scale and 
leaf litter, allowance should be made accordingly. Clean shortleaf pine seeds average 
sixty thousand to the pound. 
2 For additional directions, see Forest Service Circular 208, ‘‘ Extracting and Cleaning ~ 
Forest Tree Seed.’’ 
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