6i 



CHAPTER XIII. 



NURSERIES. 



CHOOSE a level site, with, if possible, the command of water 

 at a higher level anyhow, with water handy. Either irri- 

 gating or hand-watering for seed beds is a necessity if vigorous 

 and well-developed plants are to be looked for. 



The soil should be of the light, friable kind recommended 

 for the Tea plant (see ' soil ') and of the same nature as the 

 soil of the garden, the ultimate home of the plants. This 

 latter is all-important, for seedlings will never thrive (probably 

 not live) transplanted into a new kind of mould, particularly 

 a poorer kind. 



If possible, the soil of the seed beds should be poorer than 

 the soil of the garden on no account richer. Taking care it 

 is of the same nature as the garden soil, choose the poorest 

 you can find. The principle is well known in England, and 

 it applies equally in India. From poor to rich soil plants 

 thrive, but never the other way. 



For the above reason, if you manure seed beds, do it very 

 sparingly. 



Artificial shade for seed beds is a necessity ; at least very 

 many more seeds will germinate when it is given. 



Natural shade over seed beds is very bad ; for, firstly, 

 ' the drippings ' are highly injurious ; and, secondly, shade is 

 only required till the plants are two or three inches high ; 

 after that any shade is bad, for plants brought up to the time 

 of transplanting in shade are never hardy. 



Seed beds, where water is handy, should not be dug deep. 

 If so dug, and the soil is consequently loose a long way down, 



