22 BULLETIN 475^ U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGKICULTUEE. 
EEGULAE SEED SPOTS. 
In the seed-spot method small spots quite regularly spaced over the 
area are more or less prepared for the reception of the seed by loosen- 
ing the soil with some tool. After the seed are sown on each spot 
they are usually" covered with soil to a depth of about one-half inch 
and often with an additional mulch of needles or leaves. On the 
Arapaho National Forest, where the most consistent success with 
direct seeding of lodgepole pine has been achieved, the seed when 
sown in this way are simply pressed into the soil and not covered. 
Meager success in direct seeding by seed spotting is probably due in 
many cases to the planter covering the seed too deeply. When the 
seed is not covered at all this danger is obviated. 
The size of the spot and the depth to which the soil is loosened 
depend upon the character of the ground cover and the species to be 
sown. The spots are usually from 10 to 20 inches square. Where 
the ground cover consists of strong growing plants, such as grasses, 
which will compete with the seedlings for moisture, wide spots are 
prepared and a portion of the competing vegetation thus destroyed. 
Where a shade-enduring species is soAvn on a moist situation, the 
competition does not become so critical and the smaller spots are 
satisfactory. In locating them, advantage is taken of any shelter 
on the ground, such as brush, logs, or rocks, which will serve to 
shade the soil and seedlings during a portion of the day. For the 
same reason, on level ground the turf is thrown upon the southern 
side of the spot. On slopes the soil is thrown upon the lower edge 
of the spot. This aids in holding moisture and precludes washing 
of the soil from above, with the consequent burying of the seed too 
deeply or the covering of the seedlings. As too deep covering of 
the seed through the filling in of soil from above is doubtless often 
the cause of loss, it is better on slopes to prepare seed spots simply 
by loosening the soil, but not making any depression at all in the 
slope. The chief functions of the spot are to make sure that the 
seed reaches the mineral soil and partially to eliuiinate for a time 
competition of grass and other plants. 
SIMPLE SEED SPOTS. 
The simple seed-spot method differs from the regular seed-spot 
method pi^incipally in that the spot is smaller and somewhat deeper. 
It is usually prepared with one stroke of the mattock. Its chief 
claim to merit was that on account of its depth it was thought that 
the earth surrounding the hole would both shade the seedlings and 
protect them from winds. It would accordingly be especially suited 
for seeding on very dry, barren, stony ground or in hot or windy 
situations. A serious objection to this type of seed spot is that soil 
