Posted by Gus on 5/30/2008, 9:54 pm, in reply to "Euclyptus direct sowing outdoor" Link: Eucalyptologics: Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation
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It has been tried before in several areas of the world, using several techniques. I paste you an excerpt below as example:
"Spot sowing: Spot sowing should only be used as a supplementary treatment on understocked moist sites where broadcast sowing is unlikely to succeed because of excessive ground cover, such as mosses or liverwots.
It should not be used on dry sites or sites with dense woody weeds already established. Ground cover should be removed by lightly hoeing spots 1 foot in diameter at approximately 7 feet intervals along lines 10 feet appart, except that no spot should be located withint 5 feet of an established seedling. The creation of hollows should be avoided, particularly in wet situations. Selection of favourable seed beds should have priority over regularity of spacing. Standing vegetation should be chipped back to a distance equalling its height.
Spots should be sown at a rate equivalente to 1/2000 of the aerial sowing rate per hectare for each spot (i.e. generally between 0.20 and 0.40 g per spot). The easiest way to ensure a consistent sowing rate is to sprinkle the seed from a calibrated scoop. This can be made by soldering a handle on to a blanked-off piece of metal tubing or empty bullet casing sawn off to tdeliver the required volume of seed"
It is talking about and old method for re-stocking eucalypt forests via artificial sowing, hence to aid natural regeneration from seed in harvested areas.
Now, this type of method consumes A LOT of seed! Depending on the species (hence seed size, so weight too) and germination rates... 1.5 to 8 pounds of seed per acre! It only makes some economic sense when LOADS of cheap bulk seed are available for free 
Even the most novice nurseryman can obtain more usable plants from that amount of seed using simple horticultural techniques than this way.
Modern planting techniques use methods similar to what George has described for the amenity grower, just on a bigger scale. Using good seed sources and having good nursery practice, all the "weak ones" are discarded before anything is planted out.
Still, I do not say it cannot work
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