280 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



experimenting. The young plants should be frequently 

 weeded, and the surface of the ground kept loose by stirring. 

 The young shoots that are too near each other along the stem, 

 should be thinned by cutting them close to their bases with 

 a sharp, narrow-bladed knife. These are all the attentions 

 which the seedlings require in the first year of their growth. 



In the following spring the seedlings should be taken up, 

 and their tap-roots shortened. The plants should then be re- 

 planted in a quarter of rich deep soil, in rows 2| feet asunder, 

 and one foot apart in the rows. In order to encourage fresh 

 roots, about half a shovelful of well decomposed dung is put 

 under the tap-root of each. During the growth resulting 

 from the first flow of sap, and especially towards midsum- 

 mer, all branches or shoots that are too close, or badly placed, 

 are cut off closely, without, however, touching the upright 

 leading shoot, which is allowed to grow till it attains the 

 height of 10 feet. Some of the weak or slender-growing 

 seedlings may require the support of a small stick to keep 

 them upright. The stick should be placed so as to best re- 

 sist the effects of the southwest winds. The young stem is 

 tied to it with matting ; but at the fall of the leaf the stick 

 should be immediately removed. We have a great antipathy 

 to all supports ; for these, by being driven into the ground, 

 injure the roots, whilst the ties impede the free circulation of 

 sap in the plant, and serve as a harbor for insects. The 

 stakes, moreover, by the action of the wind, are apt to fret 

 and wound the young bark. For these reasons, stakes should 

 never be employed, except where they are absolutely indis- 

 pensable. The young seedlings ought to be induced to take 

 an upright direction by means of disbudding and shortening 

 the laterals. If it should be found necessary to shorten the 

 central leading shoot, a slight rod should be attached to it in 

 order that the upright direction of the shoot may be thereby 

 insured. This remark, which is here necessarily introduced, 

 is of general application, and need not be repeated. 



In the autumn, or rather towards the end of February, if 

 the soil in which the seedlings are planted does not appear 

 sufficiently rich, the surface should be stirred, and enriched 



