284 THE NUESERY. [MARCH 



the seeds, which are very thin and flat when taken out of the cones, 

 in boxes of light earth, taken from swampy ground, and covered 

 about the eighth of an inch, or a little more, with loose rich mould 

 sifted evenly over them ; they must have frequent sprinklings of 

 water, and when up, and the heat increases, the boxes must be re- 

 moved into the shade. You must keep them very free from weeds, 

 as many of the seeds will not grow till the second year. When they 

 are two years old transplant them into nursery rows, in moist light 

 swampy ground. 



The Thuya occidentalis, or American arbor-vitae, is propagated by 

 layers and cuttings, or by sowing the seed as directed for the white 

 cedar, with this difference, that it will not be necessary to procure 

 swampy earth for it, as it thrives best in upland. 



The Thuya orientals, or Chinese arbor-vitse, may be propagated 

 in like manner as the occidentalis. 



All the above kinds, if raised by seeds, will require some protec- 

 tion during the first two years, from very rigorous frosts. 



PINES AND FIRS. 



The pines and firs, though ranked under the same genus (Pinus), 

 may be easily distinguished from one another, as the leaves of the 

 former come out by two, three, or more, from the same sheath, and 

 those of the latter singly. In the cedar of Lebanon and larch, they 

 arise in bunches from the same bud, spreading out every way. 



It is also to be remarked that all the pines have a tendency to 

 drive down tap-roots, and therefore are more impatient of transplant- 

 ing than the firs, whose roots generally take a lateral direction. The 

 larch is the only deciduous plant of the whole family. As all these 

 kinds are not only very useful, but extremely ornamental, and as 

 none of them can be transplanted from the woods with good success, 

 I shall be the more minute in giving the true methods of raising 

 them, so as to insure thereby the growth and prosperity of the plants. 



The Pinus cedrus, or cedar of Lebanon, is rather too tender for 

 those parts of the Union where the winter frosts are very rigorous; 

 but will succeed tolerably well in warm exposures in the middle 

 States, if protected from its violence a few years, and be gradually 

 inured thereto. The seeds when procured are always in the cones, 

 and are extremely difficult to be got out; the method is, bore the 

 cone through with a small gimlet direct in the centre, entering it at 

 the but-end and working out at top ; then drive in a round iron or hard 

 wooden pin, and split the cones, after which, raise the scales one after 

 another with a knife, and carefully pick out the seeds, which are very 

 tender. 



Having your seeds ready, sow them in a box of good fresh earth, 

 covering them near half an inch deep ; in the middle States, the first 

 week in April will be the best time to do this, but early in March 

 will be preferable, if you have a green-house or hot-beds to place the 

 box therein ; give them a little sprinkling of water frequently, just 

 what will be sufficient to keep the earth -moist, for much would rot 

 or burst the seeds. When up, do not expose them too much to the 



