1120 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXXI, No. 12 
bed could not have been due to more growing space, as there was a 
decidedly smaller number of plants in the other two beds throughout 
both years in the seed bed. 
The stock from the moderately watered and cultivated bed main¬ 
tained the lead attained in the seed bed and produced slightly larger 
and better developed transplants than that from the other beds. 
The most interesting point brought out by the transplants, however, 
as shown in Table IX, is the relative increase in size of the plants from 
the unwatered cultivated bed. In distinctly third place in the seed 
bed, as transplants they surpassed those from the heavily watered 
bed and almost attained first place, being practically as large as 
plants from the watered, cultivated bed. This seems to indicate 
that small size in the seed bed is not necessarily an undesirable 
feature for transplanting, if the plants are hardy. 
The survival figures in the transplant bed show no clearly defined 
distinctions among the different treatments. 
CONCLUSIONS 
The following conclusions were reached from the results of the 
experiments: 
(1) When clean, sharp sand is used and plenty of water is available, 
yellow pine seed in spring-sown beds should be covered to a depth of 
from 34 to % inch. 
(2) Where an abundance of water can be applied, highest germina¬ 
tion and survival in the seed bed and best development of the plants 
can be obtained if seed is sown broadcast rather than in drills. 
Broadcast sowing is also more economical of labor and space. 
(3) Shade is not only not necessary for western yellow pine seedlings 
in spring-sown beds in this region, but has a distinctly undesirable 
effect on the amount and rate of germination, the amount of survival, 
and the development of the plants. Shade should not be used at 
any time. The optimum condition for seedlings of this species 
seems to be direct exposure to the sun. 
(4) In large nurseries where plenty of water can be applied, seed 
should be sown broadcast and the beds watered rather heavily at 
intervals frequent enough to maintain an average soil-water content 
of more than 50 per cent of dry weight. 
(5) In small ranger nurseries where water is scarce or it is too 
inconvenient or too expensive to apply, very good results may be 
obtained in this Region on moderately heavy moisture-retentive soil 
by sowing in drills and cultivating between the rows, either without 
artificial watering or with a moderate amount of water applied at 
times of special need. 
