Automated tree-farm in Minecraft?

Question

I've seen a few videoes where people create near (or completely) automated tree farms in Minecraft, so I thought I'd give it a go.

I'm playing 1.7.3 beta SMP though, no mods (at least none that alter game behavior.)

One of the things I saw one guy had made was something that automated planting a tree, and then automated applying a bonemeal, before finally he automated flooding the area with water to destroy the tree and gather the trunk items.

One thing at a time.

My question is thus this:

• Is it possible to automate the "plant a sapling" part?

I tried the following:

1. I set out a dispenser, pointed towards a block of dirt, but at the same level as the dirt-block. In other words, the "hole" in the dispenser was not visible, and led directly into the dirt-block
2. I set out the dispenser, pointing towards the dirt-block, but one level above the dirt-block

In both cases, when powered, a sapling item was dropped on top of the dirt-block. I assume that when the dispenser "submerged" at the same level as the dirt-block dispensed a sapling, it floated to the top due to the same rules that makes item float to the top of newly placed blocks.

So, is this part even possible without a mod?

Answer

As far as I know it is impossible without using a mod, but maybe in some future release... I hope so.

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