PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 179 



Michaelmas again ; as the frosty nights draw on, it will be necessary to have some 

 clean mould shifted thro' an open sive (or ridle) over the whole bed, so as to cover 

 the stalks of the plants, leaving only the green heads, or turfs, above the mould ; 

 this keeps them warm, and prevents their being thrown up, or spew'd out of the 

 ground, which the worms and winter frosts are apt to do. 



DEFENCE AGAINST FROST, ETC. 



As the winter grows more severe they will require a further security from the 

 injuries of the weather, which may be don by making a sort of shed or hovell over 

 them, about a foot and a half or two feet high, open on all sides, and cover'd above 

 with a thin coat of straw, or some such matter. Some make a low hedge, or sett 

 up boughs of trees, at some distance round the bed, each being designed only to 

 break off and abate the severities of a nipping, violent winter and March winds ; 

 thus they may continue all winter. 



Towards spring again, as the hardships of the winter and piercing winds are 

 over, the seed-bed must be layd open by the removal of what was brought in for 

 its winter security, which must be water'd and wedd, as formerly directed, especially 

 while the plants continue growing, which will be from the beginning of April to the 

 later end of June, or midle of July ; if the ground cleave or open, the chinks must 

 be constantly fill'd up with fresh earth. 



TRANSPLANTING TO THE NURSERY. 



The second winter they require no such shelter or tending at all, nor the next 

 spring (being the third, that of the sowing included), unless weeding and watering, 

 if needfull. Its now judgment must be made whether the plants be hearty and 

 throng in the bed, if so, they must be remov'd to the nursery, otherwise they may 

 remain where they are for another year. There are those who raise some of these 

 now, where thickest, with a weeding knife, or the like, and place them in another 

 bed or nursery, at six or eight inches distance ; and when they have stood there 

 two seasons more, remove them to that place where they design they shall allways 

 stand ; and, indeed, it's most advisable the whole bed should be used thus — I mean 

 sett into nurserys this third spring (that of the sowing included), where, having 

 stood two years more, they must again be transplanted for good and all, otherwise 

 they will grow too strong and close there again ; but when they are intended for 

 low ground, and where there will be good shelter, they may stand in the 

 nursery untill they be six, seven, or eight years old ; so that they may make a 

 handsome shew and appear ornamentall upon the first setting out ; but, then, take 

 notice, that each plant must be placed in the nursery at about two feet distance or 

 more, that the roots may have room and liberty given them to spread and enlarge 

 themselves suitable to the growth the trees will make during their stay there. By 

 this means there is room likewise given for the gardner to pass thro' them, to hoe, 

 water, and tend them as there's occasion, as also to prune them. By which means 

 they will thrive the better, be the hardier, and better prepar'd to endure their last 

 removal. 



CHOICE OF GROUND FOR NURSERY. 



The ground most proper for this nursery is some old kitchin garden that has been 

 worn out by lying long under turnips, potato's, or the like, where the soil is loose 

 and clean from weeds ; but if necessitated to make use of lay ground, more pains 

 must be taken in turning it up, to make right fallow ground of it. It must be well 

 rak'd or harrow'd, and clear'd of the roots of weeds and grass, and, above all, 

 to be well secur'd from all sorts of cattel, and shelter'd, so as that the hedges or 

 any other trees may not overtopp or shade the plants. 



METHOD OF PLANTING IN THE NURSERY. 



Upon setting out your younger plants into the nursery there's no need of being 

 so exact as to make use of a line, &c, which will be a loss of time to little purpose. 

 It may, therefore, suffice (the bed being once prepar'd) that a gardner, with two 

 labourers, follow the ensuing method :— First, one of the labourers begins, and 

 with a long pole makes a mark (by pressing it with his foot) cross the bed at every 

 distance its design'd the plants shall stand ; this don, he enters with a narrow- 

 mouthed spade where he made the first mark, and, being guided thereby, makes a 

 smal rill or gutter therewith, such as the gardner judges sufficient to receive the 

 roots of the trees ; the rill to be three or four inches deep. Thus he proceeds thro' 



