They protect the young seedlings from the sun just as the parent trees would do in the forest.

The seedbeds are kept well cultivated and free of weeds so that the seedlings may have the best opportunities for rapid growth.

Generally the seeds are sown in the spring between March and May.

Such seeds as the elms and soft maples, which ripen in the early summer, are sown as soon as possible after they are gathered.

Practical tests have shown that thick sowings of tree seeds give the best results.
There is little danger of weeds smothering out the seedlings under such conditions.