SECT. VI. X>F A NUUS-EBY. 75 



Stones and nuts must be set thin, and rather (as of 

 some advantage) the small end upwards, for here 

 the shoot pushes out, or they may be laid tiat. If 

 the beds are sown all over, cover the seed with mould 

 previously drawn aside in the alleys ; but drills have 

 the neatest appearance, and some little use may be 

 made of the spaces between them the first year. 



Prepare the beds by digging the soils well to a full 

 foot in depth, and let the surface be made fine: thus 

 will the roots strike down freely to preserve them- 

 selves from drought, wet will drain away, and the 

 young plants push straight upward : four feet beds 

 are best. 



The enemies of seed beds must be well guarded 

 against, as poultry, birds, dogs, cats, mice and/ratf ; 

 the latter by covering lightly with pea haulm or 

 wheat straw, and the former by furze, thorns, or 

 brush wood, and traps. If any hares, or rabbits, 

 get at a nursery, they make sad havock in sharp 

 weather, by barking the young plants ; therefore, 

 guard against them, and larger animals, by good 

 close fences, which will also keep out sharp winds. 



During the Jirst year, they should be kept mo- 

 derately cold ; by watering in dry seasons, or laying 

 moss, or some short litter, over the beds. And as 

 to weeding, though they must not be smothered, yet 

 some small weeds may be suffered to grow in sum- 

 mer, as they help to shade the plants, and keep the 

 ground cool. Seedling trees are very apt to suffer 

 by drought. Thin them in the summer, after rain,, 

 from two inches to three or four asunder, according 

 to their nature ; and at the end of the year (i. e. 

 when a year old) thin to from nine inches to a foot 

 asunder; those drawn may be planted out at the 

 game distance, or at least the best of them ; and 

 those left should be re-planted the second year, lest 

 the roots tap too much downwards. The tirst win- 



