ch. iv NURSERIES 123 



it be near the centre of operations, but it should be 

 on fairly level ground, and it should have soil of good 

 average quality, a sandy loam being the best. In per- 

 manent nurseries the quality and texture of the soil may 

 be improved by addition of sandy soil where it is too 

 stiff, and of loam where it is too light, but in temporary 

 nurseries this is rarely possible, and the selection should 

 be carefully made. 



The site should not be on water-logged soil, but it 

 should be within easy reach of water either from a 

 watercourse or by sinking wells. In places with a 

 regular, evenly distributed rainfall this may be of less 

 importance for temporary nurseries, but even there it 

 is desirable. 



The nursery should also be in as sheltered a position 

 as possible, where it will not be exposed to violent 

 winds, nor, in hot dry countries, on the most sunny 

 aspects, nor, at higher elevations, where frosts occur in 

 the cold weather, either in damp hollows or on easterly 

 aspects, where tender shoots are apt to become frost- 

 bitten. 



The shape of the nursery should be compact ; as 

 near the shape of a square as possible is the best for 

 supervision, working, and fitting in the beds. The 

 area will depend not only on the number of seedlings 

 which will have to be raised, but also on the species, 

 as some kinds take up more room than others, and also 

 on the size which the seedlings are to attain before they 

 are put out in the field. In the nurseries where nursery 

 lines are made (i.e. beds into which the seedlings are 

 transplanted before being finally lifted for transport to 

 the field), an additional area will be required. In 

 permanent nurseries it may be desirable to let a certain 

 proportion of seed-beds lie fallow after having been 

 worked for a year or two. In this case, also, the size 

 of the nursery will have to be made sufficiently large 

 to admit of this being done. 



The nature of the fence put round a nursery will 

 depend on the class to which it belongs, its situation, 



