SECT. VI. OF A NURSERY, 73 



to time, that they remain fast ; as also, the mats or 

 cloths, that may have been put over hoops to shelter 

 exotic seedlings, &c. from heavy rains, or severe 

 frosts, for the wind has great power over such cover- 

 ings. 



The soil of a nursery should be dry, free and in 

 heart ; but not much enriched with dung, lest a rank- 

 ness of food give too great a freedom oi growth, and 

 a habit in the plants, which not being indulged by a 

 like soil afterwards, disappointments ensue. A dungy 

 soil also encourages uorms and insects, to the injury 

 of seedlings, and makes young plants more liable to 

 be cut off in a sharp winter ; too rank a soil, also, 

 prevents the juices of plants from being properly 

 digested, and so they are less hardy, or fruitful. 



On ground designed to be sown, or planted in 

 spring, if it needs refreshing, lay on a little well con- 

 sumed dung towards winter. See page 47. , 



A nurseiy should be laid out into beds of from 

 three to four feet wide, with alleys of about two ; 

 and thus all the work of it will be done conveniently, 

 and the plants have free air to strengthen them. In 

 the alleys may be buried some dung, which will be 

 at hand, and useful, when consumed by time and 

 turning over, to dress the beds as they may need it. 



Stocks for graffing^mY, are raised from suckers of 

 plumbs, cherries, codlins, crabs, pears and quinces ; 

 and sometimes from cuttings of codlins and quinces; 

 but those stocks raised from seeds and stones are much 

 best if we consult freedom of growth. If sucker 

 stocks grow ever so well, they are apt to put forth 

 suckers, which is not only a troublesome circum- 

 stance, but exhausts a tree, and prevents fruitfulness. 

 It is to be understood, that the graff will (in some 

 measure) partake of the nature of the stock ; there- 

 fore soft, mealy fruit, ought to be propagated on 

 austere stocks^ and the contrary ; tender, delicious 



