LAYING OUT THE NURSERY. 65 



six months old. Yet no difference could be perceived 

 in the way the seeds come up, or in the plants produced 

 from them, but, as a matter of convenience, it is much 

 preferable to separate the seeds from the pulp and put 

 them down in drills. In the drills the seed should be 

 planted at least a quarter of an inch apart, and between 

 each drill should be left a space of from four to five 

 inches. The seed should be planted in March or April, 

 except where a crop of plants has been previously taken 

 from the soil, when the seed should be put down a month 

 earlier ; in from fourteen to eighteen months excellent 

 plants ought to be had, if the soil consists of virgin land. 

 Many planters put down nursery seedlings that have 

 sprung up under the old coffee trees, but this plan is not 

 to be adopted when seed can be procured, and especially 

 where the water is good. 



An excellent soil for sowing the seed is prepared from 

 an admixture of loam and leaf-mould, obtained from the 

 decayed leaves of trees and vegetable matter, ground 

 fine, well sifted and then mixed with an equal quantity 

 of sand ; while for the successful propagation of the 

 young plants a manure composed of finest soil, cattle and 

 sheep dung, dried, pulverized, sifted and then blended 

 with proportionate quantities of a fine sandy loam has 

 been found specially adapted for the purpose. The tap- 

 roots of the young plants being extremely long and ten- 

 der, an abundant supply of the latter will be found 

 requisite, a good depth being very necessary to nourish 

 and maintain them during the early period of growth. 

 During the hot weather the young plants should be 

 shaded, the most approved method of shading being to 

 place posts about four feet high, with forked heads, 

 driven into the ground at the corner of each bed, long 

 sticks being then laid across them from post to post, 



