PLANTING. 101 



to cover the surface of the beds. Flooding is more 

 effective, but it is followed by the formation of a hard 

 crust on the surface, which requires to be broken ; in the 

 majority of cases percolation is preferable. 



(j. Preparation of the Soil. 



It is highly desirable that the soil of the nursery 

 should be free from stones and roots, and as finely 

 divided as possible, in other words it should be pre- 

 pared in the same way as garden soil. The depth 

 to which the soil should be worked depends on the 

 species and nature of the desired plants. Where a com- 

 pact shallow root-system is wanted, it is best not to work 

 too deep, but to see that the surface soil is fertile ; if 

 deep-rooted plants are desired, the soil must be worked 

 to a considerable depth. If one or two kinds of plants 

 are to be raised, their special wants can be considered in 

 the first cultivation of the soil ; as a rule, however, more 

 species, and those of varying requirements, are wanted, 

 which it is convenient to raise in any part of the 

 nursery. Under these circumstances it is generally pre- 

 ferable to prepare the whole nursery for the production 

 of any kind of plants. In a country with a climate like 

 that of Britain, the best plan is to trench the nursery to a 

 depth of not less than 2 feet. During this operation all 

 stones and roots should be removed, if necessary, by 

 screening, the land levelled as far as practicable, or 

 terraced on sloping ground, and the best earth 

 kept near the surface. The most suitable time for 

 trenching is autumn, so that the ground may lie fallow 

 over winter and be exposed to the effects of frosts 



