48 BULLETIN 299, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
rows which contain ash. About four cultivations a year will usually 
be necessary for growing corn. Instead of planting ash seedlings, 
seed spotting may sometimes be used on better sites in connection 
with field crops. 
On the Indiana State Forest, a 3-year plantation of green ash on 
upland, in which corn was grown the first two seasons, averaged a foot 
higher and was in much thriftier condition for more rapid growth 
than a 6-year old plantation on slightly better soil but not cultivated. 
DIRECT SOWING. 
The comparative cheapness of direct sowing makes it sometimes 
advisable, instead of planting, where there are good chances of suc- 
cess. The seed-spot method is the one to use: (1) For dibbling in 
seed under the broken cover of a mature stand to be cut in a year or 
two, with fair soil moisture conditions; (2) for sowing on cut-over 
areas free from undergrowth immediately following clean cutting of 
the mature stand, on good moist loamy soil; and (3) for sowing on 
cleared land, such as pastures, which it is not possible to prepare by 
ploughing. A pound to two pounds of seed will easily sow an acre, 
allowing 5 to 10 seed per spot and a close 4 by 4-foot spacing of spots, 
which is advisable in direct sowing. The holes should be dug 8 to 
12 inches square and 3 to 4 inches deep (with a mattock or heavy 
turfing hoe), the soil broken up fine and lightly tamped down, the 
seed put in and half an inch of fine earth sprinkled over it. If there 
is any sod this can be placed, grass side down, around the edge of the 
hole so as form a sort of trench to hold moisture. The cost of seed- 
spotting, including seed, should not average over $4 per 1,000 spots, 
which is equivalent to $10.89 per acre for 4 by 4 spacing, $6.97 for 
i5 by 5 spacing, $4.84 for 6 by 6 spacing, $3.56 for 7 by 7 spacing, and 
$2.72 for 8 by 8 spacing. 
Methods to use on prepared ground are: (1) Ploughing area, 
broadcasting 3 to 4 pounds of seed per acre, and harrowing it in; 
(2) seed-spotting at 4 to 6 foot intervals in ploughed furrows 4 to 6 
feet apart. The total per acre cost would be about the same in both 
cases, $5 to $10 per acre. 
THINNINGS. 
Thinnings in crowded stands should be made an important feature 
in the management of ash (PI. XIII). It is an intolerant but per- 
sistent tree, developing very rapidly in height, when crowded, at 
expense of diameter growth, resulting in spindling trees with short 
narrow crowns and long slim boles (PI. VIII, fig. 2). It is, however, 
very responsive to thinnings made to increase its diameter growth 
(PI. XI, fig. 1). 
