1857.] Oincinnati Horticultural Society — Proceedings. 235 



Acclimation. — Numerous and oft-repeated experiments have 

 proved the fact that the Madura will flourish well in ail parts of the 

 United States, from Maine to Florida. 



Planting the Seed. — The ground must be thoroughly prepared in 

 the best gardening order ; then plant the seed in drills eighteen or 

 twenty inches apart, with about twelve seeds to the foot in the drills 

 — planting in October or November. 1^ or spring planting, the seed 

 must either be frozen through the winter or soaked at the time of 

 planting. If the seed is to be frozen it should be mixed with sand 

 and placed in boxes that will not hold water, and then exposed to 

 the freezing weather through the winter, and planted as soon as they 

 begin to sprout in the spring. If the seed is to be soaked, as soon 

 as the ground grows warm in April, put the seeds in a tight vessel, 

 and cover them with hot water, (not boiling,) and soak them in 

 warm water about seven days, changing the water once or twice to 

 prevent fermentation. Then put the seed in shallow boxes and mix 

 with sand ; keep moist and warm until they show signs of sprouting, 

 which will be in a few days ; then plant as before recommended j 

 but be careful never to select ground that will crust or bake. — 

 Either of the above modes of planting are perfectly reliable. 



Setting the Hedge. — As soon as the ground becomes settled in 

 the spring it should be plowed to the depth of twelve or eighteen 

 inches, and thoroughly pulverized for the reception of the young 

 trees. A line should then be stretched, and the trees carefully re- 

 moved from the nursery, and planted with strict regard to uniform- 

 ity of size and distance. 



Distance of Planting. — The Maclnra is a third-rate forest-tree, 

 and, as such, requires either natural or artificial dioarfing. The for- 

 mer is preferable, and can be best accomplished by close planting. — ■ 

 For this purpose we recommend planting the trees six inches apart, 

 in a single row. The plant thus naturally loses the nature of the 

 tree and grows into a shrub, and still retains all its wonted health 

 and vigor, and makes a good protection sooner and at a less cost 

 than any other mode of planting. Great care should be taken to 

 fill all vacancies as soon as they occur, that they may have a uni- 

 form growth and thus all gaps and weak places in the fence will be 

 avoided. 



Cultivation and Pruning. — After planting, the hedge should be 

 cultivated with care for two years, keeping the ground well pulver- 

 ized and clear of grass and weeds. The first winter after plant- 



