50 NURSERY MANAGEMENT 



above the nursery, so that it can flow down to any part of the 

 area in pipes laid down for the purpose. 



4. It should be near a road or ride to make cartage easy. 



5. It should be on a gentle slope to ensure good drainage. 



6. It should not be in a deep shallow valley where frost 

 is likely to be bad. A fairly open position sheltered by sur- 

 rounding woods, but open to the free circulation of air, is 

 best. Regarding aspect, probably sheltered north or north- 

 west aspects are the best, as cold east winds do much harm on 

 an east aspect, and the soil dries up too quickly on a south 

 aspect. Moreover, south and east aspects receive sunlight 

 early, and thaws after a night of frost will be too rapid. Too 

 much shelter, however, is not good. 



7. The soil should, if possible, be a light sandy loam, free 

 from stones, as this is easily worked. It should not be too 

 fertile or the plants will suffer when transplanted to less fertile 

 soils. It should be of fair depth, because a shallow soil dries 

 up quickly ; from 18 inches to 2 feet is sufficient. If there is 

 a choice only between a very light and very heavy soil, the 

 light one is preferable. 



The area of the nursery depends on the amount of planting 

 to be done ; as a general rule, where four year old plants are 

 used, which are left two years in the seed-bed and two years 

 in the nursery lines, an area of four or five acres of nursery 

 is required for every hundred acres of land to be planted 

 annually. 



Formation of the nursery. The shape should be a square or 

 rectangle, as this is cheapest to fence ; and the beds are more 

 easily laid out without waste of ground, and look neater. The 

 nursery should be well fenced with a good wire fence, with 

 rabbit netting attached, to keep out all cattle and ground 

 game ; if on an exposed situation, an evergreen hedge should 

 be planted within the wire fence to give shelter against cold 

 winds. Draining should not be necessary, as land wet enough 

 to require draining should not be chosen ; if, however, this 



