WOODLOT SEED CO., NORWAY, MICHIGAN 
Instructions For Planting 
The U. S. Department of Agriculture through Farmers Bulletin No. 1453 on coniferous trees 
and Farmers Bulletin No. 1123 on Hardwood Seedlings, has set out in detail information on rais- 
ing the different seedlings. The State Department of the University of Minnesota also supplies in- 
formation on the subject. In Minnesota the County Agents have this information available. The 
following instructions are based on the above and our experience in planting. We suggest that the 
original bulletins be secured from the Superintendent of Documents at Washington. Bulletin No. 
1453 is priced at 10 cents. Your soil conservationrepresentative can be of help too. 
Seed beds can be prepared about the same as for onions. If there is too much clay in the soil a 
little sand should be mixed in when growing conifers. Conifer seeds are planted in rows four or 
five inches apart for easy cultivation or often are broadcast. Four foot rows of Hardwood can be 
planted in rows running north and south about ten or twelve inches apart and can then be hand 
cultivated conveniently. This may be better than wider spacing as shade can be provided easily and 
economically. Brush so arranged as to cover about half of the bed can be used for shade, or lath 
can be spaced about one and a half inches apart. Lath frames have the advantage of being moved 
easily and this is sometimes necessary. 
The seed bed should be sheltered from prevailing wind by trees, buildings or other protection 
and should be placed near enough to water to make watering easy if necessary. It should be on land 
that has been in crop the preceding year, and should be worked down to a depth of about a foot 
and all sticks and stones removed. Well rotted manure may be used, but none fresh, nor ashes. Firm 
the bed with plank or roller. Cover the seeds lightly, small ones to a depth of one-fourth to three- 
eighths inches, and large ones about three times their diameter. Consider Chinese Elm a small seed. 
Cover the beds with leaves, or better, with burlap, keep moist, not wet, and remove when the 
seeds start to germinate, which probably will be, with conifers, in two or three weeks. 
Sprouting of almost any hard coated seed is sometimes hastened by soaking the seed for sev- 
eral days in cold water. Honey and Black Locust should be covered with water just under the 
boiling point and left until the seeds swell. Repeat for those which do not swell. 
During the first few weeks coniferous seedlings may be lost through the disease known as 
damping off. During hot, muggy weather, the seedlings sometimes wilt and die. Shade should be re- 
moved on such days and if water is standing between the rows as a result of rain, dry dirt or sand 
should be sprinkled between them to dry them up. Be careful to replace the shade on hot sunshiny 
days. If any plants do wilt-and die, remove and destroy them at once. Most authorities advise secur- 
ing dirt from some distance below the surface for covering seeds at time of planting, so that it will 
be steril, and there will be less danger from damping: off. Some use Aluminum Sulphate, others 
Semesan, and there are other chemicals advertised, to be applied at time of planting or when the 
seedlings first appear, for the prevention of disease. 
If there is danger from birds or rodents and cat’s don’t get control of the situation it may be 
necessary to screen the beds for the first few weeks. 
Many hardwood seedlings are transplanted when one year old, though anne transplanting 
may be advisable. Conifers are usually transplanted once or twice to develop a strong root system 
before being finally planted where they are to stay. 
