MARCH] THE NURSERY. 287 



pleasure grounds. It is propagated abundantly by seeds, which should 

 be preserved in sand from the time of their being ripe till March, and 

 then sown and covered about half an inch deep. If kept in a dry 

 state till spring, some will vegetate the first season and some not till 

 the second. It will take by grafting or budding it on any kind of 

 medlar, or on the white thorn, pear, or quince. 

 , 



THE JUDAS, SNOWDROP, AND FRINGE-TREES. 



The Oercis canadensis, or American Judas-tree, is one of our most 

 beautiful early flowering and ornamental plants ; and may be propa- 

 gated by sowing its seeds in March, as directed for the common 

 locust-tree. 



The Halesia tetraptera, or snowdrop-tree, is exceeded by very few 

 shrubs for the beauty of its numerous white pendant flowers. It 

 may be propagated by suckers or layers, or by sowing the seeds in 

 November when ripe, or in March, and covering them near an inch 

 deep with light rich mould. 



The Chionanthus virginica, or fringe-tree, is a very ornamental 

 shrub, and may be cultivated by layers, suckers, or seed. Sow the 

 seeds when ripe in autumn, covering them an inch deep with very fine 

 light mould, or preserve them in earth or sand till March, and 

 then sow them as above; many will not rise till the second spring, 

 so that it will be necessary to keep the ground very free from weeds 

 all the time. 



MAGNOLIAS. 



The seeds of the different kinds of magnolia should be sown im- 

 mediately after being ripe, or be preserved in damp sand or earth till 

 March; for if kept dry till that time, very few, if any, will vegetate 

 till the year following; and indeed may not until the second season, 

 even if sown when ripe. They may also be propagated by layers and 

 suckers, and by grafting and budding upon one another. 



RHODODENDRONS, KALMIAS, AZALIAS AND ANDROMEDAS. 



Each and every species and variety of the above beautiful families 

 of plants may be propagated either by seeds, layers, or suckers. The 

 finest plants are always raised from seed, and although the process 

 may be thought tedious, it is worth attending to ; the more especially 

 as they do not always succeed well when taken from the woods, and 

 that thousands may be raised in this way, which may be successfully 

 removed to any place where wanted. 



The capsules should be collected when the seeds are perfectly ripe, 

 and if you intend to sow them immediately, which is certainly the 

 better way, expose the capsules a few days to dry, but not to a power- 

 ful sun ; they will then open, and the seeds will easily shake out ; 

 but if you do not intend sowing them till February or March, pre- 

 serve them in the capsules till that time. To have a double chance 

 sow some on shady borders of light, dry, loamy earth, and also in 



