SECT. VII. OF GRAFFING. 79 



withal, not growing near dottrel, ill-conditioned ones, 

 the farina from the flowers of which might impregnate 

 thofe oi the good tree, and give its feed a degree of 

 degeneracy. Let oak acorns be thrown into water, 

 and thofe only ufed which fink quickly ; — they fhould 

 be kept a while to harden, but not too long out of 

 ground, as they foon fprout. 



In the management of a nurfery, the young plants of 

 trees and fhrubs mould be dug round once a year, by 

 a downright cut of a (harp fpade, a little diftance from 

 the items, nearer or farther off according to their age, 

 to ihorten flraggling roots, and produce new ones more 

 at home : Let this be done in October or February, the 

 former time is beft for the older plants, and the latter 

 for young ones, The fpade alfo may be drove under 

 them to cut off the tap roots, where it is not an ob- 

 ject to preferve them. By this practice, a good, full, 

 brufhy root will be obtained, fitting plants for a prof- 

 perous removal ; but it fhould be done a year before 

 tranfplanting : It improves alfo the foil. Evergreens 

 in particular would be fafer to move, being thus treated ; 

 and if only to be moved from one part of the grounds 

 to another, balls of earth in this cafe will hold well to 

 them. Immediately after the operation, a found wa- 

 tering will be proper to fettle the earth to the roots, 

 except the ground be quite moift ; but this work of 

 digging a nurfery is beft done when the ground is dry. 



SECTION VII. 



OF GRAFFING 



f RAFFING, (or grafting,) is the infertion of a cion 

 *- 7 " into a/rock, oi'Jtem, railed for the purpofe, and is 

 neceffaiy to the enfuring of good fruit ; i. e, to have 



E 4 the 



