TO THE NURSERY. [JAN. 



tender may be placed in frames to have occasional covering either of 

 glass lights or mats, &c., from frost; observing of all those sorts here 

 alluded to, that they are gradually to be hardened to the open 

 ground, and need only be covered in frosty weather; at all other 

 times let them remain fully exposed, and by degrees, as they acquire 

 age and strength, inure them to bear the open air fully; so as when 

 they arrive at from two or three, to four or five years old, they may 

 be turned out into the open ground. The sorts requiring this treat- 

 ment are pointed out under their proper heads in the different 

 months. 



The green-house kinds of all sorts, or such as require constant 

 shelter in winter, are to be managed as directed under the article 



GREEN-HOUSE. 



And the hot-house or stove-plants, or such as require constant 

 shelter all or the greater part of the year, together with the aid of 

 artificial heat, are to be managed as exhibited under the article 

 HOT-HOUSE. 



WORK TO BE DONE IN THE NURSERY. 



Young apple and pear-trees may now be pruned agreeably to the 

 rules laid down in March; though if your stock of these is not 

 very numerous, and that you are desirous to have so much work 

 done out of the way when the hurry of business conies on in spring, 

 it will be quite as well to defer doing it till the end of February or 

 beginning of March. 



Trim up the stems of forest and other hardy trees where they re- 

 quire it; this may be done when little else can in the nursery; for 

 if it is performed in frosty weather the trees will receive no harm by 

 the operation, especially the hardy deciduous kinds. 



Carry well-rotted dung or compost, and lay it on such parts of the 

 nursery as require it. This may be necessary to such particular 

 quarters as have been lately cleared, and that are intended to be 

 planted again with a fresh stock in autumn, taking off a summer 

 crop of vegetables previous thereto; and when the frost permits, 

 let it be trenched in regularly one full spade deep at least. If the 

 necessity requires it this ground may be planted with young trees, 

 &c., in spring. 



In severe weather, when out-work cannot be done, make label- 

 sticks ; and have them in readiness when wanted, to mark the various 

 kinds and varieties of fruit and forest-trees, shrubs, plants, &c., 

 which you intend to planter propagate in spring ; the largest to mark 

 rows of fruit-trees, &c., should be about the size of a coach-wheel 

 spoke, and for sake of durability, made of white oak, or some other 

 good durable wood, with the numbers marked or painted thereon ; 

 such will last you for several years : small kinds for labelling flowers, 

 or the various sorts of small seeds which you intend to sow, may be 

 made of old or new shingles, or pieces of good pine, cut and split to 

 such lengths as you desire ; form these neatly, and when you are go- 

 ing to use them, rub one side of the upper end for about two inches 

 with white oil-color paint; on which, while yet wet, write your num- 



