1110 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXXI, No. 12 
broadcast plots a little longer to break through the ground, possibly 
because in the drills the combined lifting force of many seedlings 
is concentrated along a narrow line. Figure 2 shows graphically the 
rate and amount of germination. 
(3) Survival in the seed bed, in percentage of the number that 
germinated, was higher for the broadcast plots, both for the average 
of the three lesser depths (5.1 per cent) and also for the average of 5 
all depths (3.4 per cent). The comparatively higher survival in the 
broadcast plots is due to greater susceptibility of the seedlings along 
the drills to attack from damping-off. 
(4) In general, the stock from the broadcast plots showed a longer 
root and a shorter top than that from the drills, and the tops and 
roots were, on the whole, lighter in weight. The broadcast method 
S roduced the largest seedlings, except for the ^-inch and %-xiicYl 
epths, and the drill method produced the heaviest plants, except 
for the -inch depth. 
(5) The stock raised by the broadcast method showed a higher 
survival in all cases, except for the lot raised with 34 -inch cover. 
The latter made such a radically different showing from any of the 
rest that it can safely be assumed to have been injured either during 
transplanting or later. 
(6) Measurements of both seedlings and transplants show that 
the stock raised in the drills had longer roots and tops. This is due 
to greater competition for light and root room in the case of seedlings 
crowded together in drills. It really means that the drills produced 
an inferior grade of stock compared to the broadcast plots and is an 
argument in favor of broadcast sowing. 
A comparison of the amount of germination in the fall-sown beds 
is of no value, for the reason that mice got in during the winter, in 
spite of protective screens, and did more or less damage. Therefore 
the germination figures have not been tabulated. The total amount 
of germination during the season was 25 per cent greater in the drills 
than in the broadcast beds, but this may only indicate that more 
of the broadcasted seed was eaten than of that in the drills. 
Loss in the drilled bed was almost 50 per cent greater than in the 
broadcast bed, showing a marked advantage in favor of broadcasting. 
Plants from the drills had longer, more spindling tops than those 
from the broadcast bed, an additional argument in favor of the 
latter method. 
DEGREE OF SHADE 
SUMMARY 
As earlier nursery experience in other regions had shown that the 
tender first-year seedlings of many conifers were benefited by being 
partially shaded from the direct rays of the sun, it was the practice 
to use shade on western yellow pine beds in the earlier nursery work 
in this region. By 1913, however, when this study was started, 
shading had been discontinued for yellow pine at Savenac and 
Trapper Creek nurseries, for general observations indicated that it 
was unnecessary. The experiments at Priest River were undertaken 
to obtain definite information on this point. 
The basis for drawing conclusions was the effect of the different 
degrees of shade upon germination, survival, growth, and develop¬ 
ment of seedlings, and survival and growth of transplants. 
