JUNE. 279 



garden pots, in wooden boxes, and on gentle hotbed ; but 

 from many years' experience I have found that it is prefera- 

 ble to sow the seeds in the open ground. They grow in the 

 latter, during the first year, with the proper degree of vigor, 

 and make a substantial growth. In September, a part of the 

 garden is chosen which is not infested by any kind of insect. 

 The ground is dug deeply but not manured. It is carefully 

 cleaned from all weeds, and at the same time the soil is made 

 as fine as possible. About the end of the month drills are 

 made two feet apart and about two inches deep. After the 

 bottoms of the drills have been levelled a thin layer of wood 

 ashes is sown in them. The seeds, preserved since the win- 

 ter or spring, are steeped in a solution of sulphate of lime, 

 and placed about two inches apart in the drills. A strong oak 

 stake is driven into the ground to mark where each sort is 

 sown ; apiece of lead is nailed on the stake and stamped with 

 the letter S, and the number of the variety sown. Before 

 covering the seeds, they should be pressed on the flat side or 

 on the edge with the finger, in order that the radicle may 

 strike directly downward, and the plumule spring upwards 

 without proceeding first in a horizontal direction and then 

 forming a curve at the base of the stem, which would be the 

 case if the seeds were not properly placed. All the drills are 

 successively covered in the same way. During the winter 

 and spring some parings of turf should be scattered over the 

 surface of the ground, in order to aff"ord nourishment to the 

 worms and prevent them from attacking the seedlings, the 

 seed leaves of which will appear above ground towards the 

 end of the following March. 



The seed of a pear, taken from a well-formed fruit of first- 

 rate quality, produced by a naturally vigorous tree belonging 

 to a good race, being sown at the end of September, with all 

 the precautions already pointed out, in light deep soil, remains 

 fixed in this by its strong radicle for the first year. The 

 shoot gradually acquires firmness and strength, and commen- 

 ces to throw out some branches. Each seedling plant exhib- 

 its peculiar characters which, in the course of the summer, 

 are subjects of observation for those that are in the habit of 



