ri<niiui<i <n ,sv<v/-/^'/>- mill Nurseries, 39 



Soaking of Seed* before Planting. 



146. Hard-shelled seeds, such as the common and honey 1 >cust, 

 and the Kentucky coffee-tree, etc., will not grow until they have 

 heen soaked for Mime time, and sometimes not till the secoml or even 

 third year after planting. '1'lu-ir germinating power is hastened by 

 scalding i'ora short time, and by allowing tlu'in to macerate in warm 

 water. The process may lie repeateil .-eVeral times, the seeds that 

 show >i^ns of sprouting being iirst picked out. at each time, before 

 exposing the rest to this treatment. They should he planted with- 

 out delay ; lor, if allowed to dry after being once sofu-ned. their vi- 

 talit is soon lost. 



/.< ,in<l .Y///-.-- //'. .-. 



147. In selecting -rounds for a nur.-ery, we ,-hould avoid those 

 that an- cxeepiionally rich, or that aie too damp, becan>c the young 

 planls thus started will, when placed in Ie-s fertile and dryer 

 grounds, either peri.-h <r lose their vigor, and he .-low in recovering 

 strength. A hard and harren soil is still more unfavoral)le. lor the 

 })lants that start are feehle, and will not endure the i:ard.-hip of 

 transplanting. The -rounds should lie of irood fertility, moderately 

 comjact, and wi-11 drained, sheltered from hot and from cold wind.-., 

 and not exposed to drouth. 



14S. The soil should lie prepared liy deep cultivation , and IK- kept 

 free from weeds. Sometimes this may lie done: by the cultivatio'i 

 of some hoed crop between the rows of YOUIIL,' tree.-, v.hc'.i they ftj*C 

 not liable to be shaded or injured by this practice, 'i i. 

 an adjacent woodland will often afford protection, and a stream of 

 water near by will be found very convenient for watering the young 

 plants or for irrigation in a dry time. 



149. It is generally be.-t to sow the seeds in beds, laid out in hands 

 about four feet wide, and of indefinite length, with paths between. 

 Beeds are sowed in row.-, from six inches to a foot apart, and 

 verv close together ill the rows. The covering should be light, and 

 only just sufficient to prevent the seeds from being washed out by 

 the rains. They may, with great advantage, be planted in and cov- 

 ered by a soil prepared from dead leaves and decomposed sod. 1 



'For preparing tlii- soil, the fullmvin^ (lin'ction< an- givon \-y Lurruiz 

 "Select a stnuly place, imt exposed to the south, but open to 



