178 



NUR 



THE UNIVERSAL HERBAL; 



NUR 



inclining to sand, neither rich nor poor, from eighteen to 

 twenty-four inches in depth, lying on a free, porous substra- 

 tum, as this will be found more generally congenial to the 

 nature of the different forest trees than any other soil. But 

 there is no general rule without exception : if there be a 

 diversity of soils, and if they do not too nearly approach the 

 extremes of meagre sterility and excessive fertility, so much 

 the better; since all the kinds do not exactly thrive in the 

 same soil, and an opportunity would thereby be afforded 

 of placing each in that congenial to its nature. The site 

 should be neither high nor low, sheltered nor exposed, 

 in any extreme, for the same reason, which is, that it may the 

 more generally answer all purposes. For a nursery of this 

 description, nothing can be more eligible tlian the spot 

 which may occasionally be occupied as a kitchen-garden, 

 The pulverization and mellowness afforded by the previous 

 growth of various culinary crops, bring the land into the most 

 suitable state for the raising of young trees, and at the same 

 timecleaj it the most effectually from vermin, such as the grub 

 and other insects. In all cases it will be advisable to trench the 

 ground to its full depth, in preparing it for a nursery ; and if 

 necessary, to give it a dressing with lime, marl, dung, &c. in 

 compost. Other manure should never be applied to nursery 

 ground at the time of cropping with timber-trees. But at the 

 time of cropping with esculents, manure, either simple or in a 

 compost, rnay he applied, as convenience, or the nature of the 

 crop in question, shall determine. But that the trees should 

 immediately follow a manured culinary crop, is the best of 

 all methods; as in that case no manure would be required 

 for the timber crop. He has known an instance where a 

 field was taken in for a nursery, from an old pasture of 

 rough sward, and in which myriads of the grub-worm', 

 slug, &c. had found an asylum. It was conceived that by 

 subtrenching, or deeply digging it, the land might be effec- 

 tually cleaned; and accordingly the field was planted with 

 nursery plants, without any preparatory crop of grain, &c. 

 But the result was, that most of the Firs, the Larches, the 

 Elms, the Beeches, &c. became a prey to the vermin in the 

 ensuing season ; and their stems were found peeled entirely 

 round, about an inch under the surface. For this reason it 

 becomes a matter of caution, that a like misfortune be 

 avoided, to take a crop or crops of grain, potatoes, turnips, &c. 

 ir< order thoroughly to cleanse the soil of those noxious vermin, 

 before venturing in it the more valuable crop of the nursery. 

 But, in respect to the proper rotation, much must be left to 

 the judgment of the operator and existing circumstances. The 

 ' following example is given, on the suspicion that it may be 

 applied, or partly rejected, according to the exigency of the 

 case: 1st, Vegetables, with manure; winter fallow. 2nd. 

 Evergreen and resinous trees, without manure. 3rd. Sub- 

 trenched ; deciduous trees, resinous trees, without manure. 

 4th. Potatoes or turnips, with manure. 5th. Evergreen and 

 resinous trees, as before, &c. However, for the extensive plan- 

 tations of the Duke of Portland in Nottinghamshire, where 

 tlie soil is of a light sandy kind, some well-situated valley 

 is usually chosen, as near the centre of the intended planta- 

 tions as possible, for the purpose of a nursery. If this valley 

 be surrounded with hills on all sides but the south, so much 

 the better. A piece of ground, consisting of as many acres 

 as is convenient for the purpose, is fenced about in such a 

 manner as to keep out all noxious animals. At each end of 

 the nursery, large boarded gates are fixed, and also a road 

 made down the middle, wide enough to admit carriages to 

 go through, which is found to be very convenient for remov- 

 ing young trees from thence to the plantations. After the 

 fence is completed, the ground on each side of the road is 



trenched about twenty inches deep, which may be done for 

 about 3. 10s. or 4. an acre, and should be performed in 

 the spring when the planting season is over. If after the 

 trenching two or three chaldrons of lime be laid on an acre, 

 the land will produce an excellent crop either of cabbages or 

 turnips, which being eaten off by sheep in the autumn, will 

 make the land in fine order for all sorts of tree seeds; but 

 as the Oak is the sort of tree generally cultivated, this is the 

 method pursued in raising and managing that most valuable 

 species. Culture. As soon as the acorns fall, after being 

 provided with a good quantity, sow them in the following 

 manner; Draw drills with a hoe in the same manner as is 

 practised for pease, and sow the acorns therein so thick as 

 nearly to touch each other, leaving the space of one foot 

 between row and row, and between every fifth row the space 

 of two feet for the alleys. While the acorns are in the 

 ground, great care must be taken to keep them free from 

 vermin, which would very often make great havoc among 

 the beds, if not timely prevented; and this caution applies 

 to most other sorts of tree seeds. As soon as the seed- 

 lings appear, the beds should be weeded, which should be 

 often repeated, until they want thinning: and as the plants 

 frequentlj grow more in one wet season where the soil is 

 tolerably good, than in two dry ones where the soil is poor, 

 the time for doing this is best ascertained by observing 

 when the tops of the rows meet; which is done, when that 

 is the case, by taking away one row on each side the middle- 

 most, which leaves the remaining three rows the same dis- 

 tance apart as the breadth of the alleys. Ivi taking up these 

 rows, the workman ought to be careful neither to injure the 

 plants removed, nor those left on each side. The rest of 

 the young Oaks being now left in rows at two feet apart, 

 let them again stand till the tops meet; then take up every 

 Other row, and leave the rest in rows four feet asunder, till 

 they arrive to the height of about five feet; which is full as 

 large a size as can be wished to be planted. In taking up 

 the two last sizes, the method is to dig a trench at the end 

 of each row full two feet deep ; then undermine the plants, 

 and let them fall into the trench with their roots entire : the 

 same mode is necessary with the other sorts of trees, very 

 much of their future success depending on the point of their 

 being well taken up. But Mr. Nicol does not nurse trees 

 in general more than two seasons, as they are cither one or 

 two years in the seminary, according to their kinds, before 

 they come under view ; and as the after treatment for many 

 kinds is the same, for the sake of brevity he classes such as 

 with propriety may be classed together, and whose culture 

 in the nursery is similar, particularly those only that are of 

 the greatest importance, and whose treatment is materially 

 different. He advises that the Alder and the Birch should 

 remain two years in the seminary, and then be removed into 

 nursery rows. The richest and choicest ground in the 

 nursery, provided it be of such soil and in such situation 

 as is described above, should be allotted for them. They 

 are to be planted in lines twelve inches asunder, and about 

 four inches in line. The roots of the Alders may be trimmed 

 a little with the knife. The Birches must not be touched. 

 And he adds, that whether plnnts should be put in with the 

 spade or setting-stick, is a question frequently agitated. 

 He is of opinion, it is a matter uf little importance to plunts 

 of this age which method is practised, provided cither be 

 well performed. The size of the roots should determine; 

 for it would certainly be improper to force a large root into 

 a small hole, to the evident detriment of the plant, by its 

 roots and fibres being bundled together in a mass, without 

 the intervention 6f mould. It is equally improper to force 



