PROPAGATION OP STOCKS. 125 



4 



this mode. By taking some pains in the sowing, we raise 

 as good stocks in this as in any other way; the decayed 

 pulp contributes considerable nutriment to the young 

 plants in their earliest stage of growth. 



When deferred until spring, it should be done at the 

 earliest moment that the condition of the ground will ad- 

 mit. When the ground is ready, a line is stretched along 

 one side of the plot, and a drill opened with a hoe about 

 eight or ten inches wide, and three deep ; the seeds are 

 then dropped, and the fine earth drawn over them with 

 the hoe as regularly as possible, covering them about three 

 inches deep. If some leaf mould from the woods, or old 

 decomposed manure, in a fit state for spreading, could be 

 had, nnd a covering of it an inch in depth spread on the 

 top of the drills, it would prevent the surface from baking 

 or cracking, and allow the plants to come up with greater 

 strength and regularity. Whatever depth be used of 

 such a covering, it should be deducted from the covering 

 of common earth. 



Distance to Plant. When large quantities are raised, 

 the drills should be three feet apart, to admit of the culti- 

 vator passing between them ; for the ground should be 

 kept perfectly clean and mellow around seedlings the 

 whole season. 



After Management. It is of great importance that they 

 be not in any way stunted; neither in first coming through 

 the soil by a hard surface, nor afterwards by weeds and 

 lack of culture ; seedlings, stunted during the early stages 

 of their growth, never make vigorous, healthy stocks ; and, 

 indeed, should never be planted. When they appear 

 above the surface, and are too close together, they should, 

 as soon as possible, be thinned out to regular distances ; 

 for, when grown up in dense masses, they are generally 

 feeble and worthless. One hundred good, vigorous stocks 

 are worth five hundred poor ones. It is very common to 

 see seedlings of one year larger than those of two years, 



