MARCH] THE NURSERY. 281 



THE PLANE, TULIP, AND NETTLE-TREES. 



The platanus occidentah's, or plane-tree, commonly called the large 

 buttonwood, and in some places, though very improperly, sycamore, 

 is a valuable tree for shade, and many other useful purposes. It 

 may be propagated, either by cuttings, layers, or seed ; but the last 

 method is much preferable to either of the former, not only with 

 respect to this, but to every other tree bearing seed, which may be 

 cultivated for its timber; and although it may appear more tedious 

 at first, it will, in the end, be found the most expeditious and profit- 

 able. They may be sown either in November, when ripe, or in 

 March, first breaking the balls of seed, and separating them effect- 

 ually, mixing them with some dry earth or sand, and then sowing 

 them even on the surface of prepared four feet wide beds in the 

 nursery, and covering them about a quarter of an inch deep, or a 

 little more, if the earth is fine and light : too deep covering is inju- 

 rious to all kinds of seed, for nature never designed more than a 

 sufficiency to promote and give action to vegetation. They will come 

 up the first season, and the next or succeeding year may be planted 

 into nursery rows. 



The Liriodendron tulipifera, or tulip-tree, commonly, but very 

 improperly called poplar, is best propagated by seed, which should be 

 sown in November, when ripe, or preserved in sand or earth till March, 

 and then sown, covering them half an inch deep. Those sown in 

 November will all grow the spring following; but, if kept out of the 

 ground in a dry state till spring, a great number of them will not 

 vegetate till the next year. 



The Celtis occidentcdis, or nettle-tree, is propagated by seed which, 

 if sown in November, when ripe, or preserved in earth or sand till 

 March, and then sown, will generally vegetate the same season ; but 

 if the berries are kept dry till spring, the greater number of them 

 will not grow till the next year. They should be covered about an 

 inch deep. 



MAPLES. - 



The Acer argenteum, or silvery leaved, and Acer rubrum, or scarlet 

 maples, perfect their seeds in May, and should be sown immediately 

 after having been collected ; they will vegetate directly, and produce 

 fine plants the first season, if kept free from weeds. The seeds of 

 the former do not keep well till spring, but those of the latter will. 



The sugar, Canada, ash-leaved, Pennsylvania, and mountain maples, 

 and also the Acer mayus, or sycamore, may be sown either in autumn 

 or March, and will succeed well in either season ; if sown in autumn, 

 cover them about three-quarters of an inch deep; if in spring, half 

 an inch will be sufficient. When about a foot high in the seed-beds, 

 plant them early in spring into nursery rows, at proper distances. 



CATALPA, SWEET-GUM, PAPAW, AND PERSIMMON. 



The Bignonia catalpa will grow freely from seed, which is to be 



