ARBORICULTURE. 331 



of a sufficient height. Late in autumn let the land be trenched 

 from a foot and a half to two feet deep, working the sward to the 

 bottom ; and during the following spring, the surface should be 

 carefully kept clear from weeds. About mid-summer, unless the 

 soil be very rich, let a coat of manure be spread over the surface, 

 after which it should again be trenched. By this second 

 operation the rotten sward will be brought to the top, and the 

 soil will wear a mellow appearance. From mid-summer to' 

 September, the ground should be kept clear from weeds ; and 

 just before the seeds are committed to it, it should again be 

 trenched, which will effectually produce an uniform mixture of 

 all the parts. This being done let the ground be levelled, and 

 the beds laid out for the different purposes, reserving proper 

 portions for the reception of such seeds as must be sown in 

 spring. 



A very judicious planter recommends the following method of 

 making a seminary. Trench the ground in November eighteen 

 inches deep, if the soil will admit of it ; but where the staple is 

 too thin, one foot will be sufficient, in which case the sward must 

 be pared off very thin, and placed in the bottom of the trench. 

 The following year let this land be cultivated with a crop of 

 cabbages, turnips or rape, which must be eaten off by sheep. 

 After this a common digging will be sufficient, previous to its 

 being formed into beds for the reception of the seeds, It will 

 be necessary to remark upon this mode of preparation, that the 

 urine of sheep is considered as one of the most cherishing 

 manures for all plants raised in a seminary. This mode of 

 procedure will answer for most kinds of trees. Those which 

 require a moister or cooler situation, may be cultivated with 

 equal success by shading and irrigation. No greater error exists 

 in the planter's art, than the doctrine that trees should be raised 

 on the same quality of soil as that to which they are to be trans- 

 planted, as if a robust, healthy plant were less likely to withstand its 

 subsequent casualties of situation, soil and local climate, than a 

 weaker plant with contracted sap vessels, the invariable conse- 

 quence of a poor seed-bed soil. 



Experience fully confirms that principle of vegetable physiology 



