116 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



tinued until rain falls. As watering is expensive, unless 

 it can be done by irrigation with water obtained from a 

 higher point, it is only done when absolutely necessary. 

 Many British nurserymen never water; they prefer 

 taking their chance. In more southern countries watering 

 frequently becomes a necessity. There, also, protection 

 against hot winds is frequently given by shades placed 

 on the side whence the wind blows. 



Fig. 50. Fig. 51. 



(3.) "Weeding should be done frequently and 

 thoroughly. It can be done by hand, or with knives, 

 weeding-forks (Fig. 50), light two- or three-pronged 

 hoes, the Dutch hoe (Fig. 51), &c.* 



The weeding is generally accompanied by some 

 loosening of the surface soil ; but apart from weeding, 

 periodical working of the soil between the nursery lines 

 is highly beneficial. 



(4.) If the seedlings come up too thick in the seed- 

 beds, they may be thinned out. In doing this, care 

 must be taken not to disturb the plants which are to 



* Figs. 50 and 51 have been taken from Brades Co.'s Illustrated Catalogue. 



