352 THE NURSERY. [APRIL 



The first shoots from the inoculated buds are, in some seasons, apt 

 to be attacked by insects or blights ; and these, if not prevented, 

 will injure them greatly, and sometimes entirely spoil them; but by 

 timely attention, it may be, in a great measure, prevented : where the 

 ends of the young shoots appear crumpled, and the leaves curled, let 

 them be carefully taken off, for they are full of small insects. By 

 this practice the vermin may be prevented from spreading farther. 



Likewise observe, that all shoots which put out from the stock, 

 except the proper inserted bud, must be rubbed off constantly as they 

 are produced, that its whole efforts may go to the support of the bud- 

 shoots only. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF SEED-BEDS. 



Water occasionally the seed-beds of all kinds of trees and shrubs 

 in dry weather: this must be practised both before and after the 

 plants begin to appear. 



Observe at all times to water these beds with moderation ; a little 

 and often must be the rule. Likewise be very careful not to apply 

 the water over hastily at any time, for that would be apt to wash the 

 earth away from the seed, and also from the young plants now begin- 

 ning to come up : be particularly careful as to the more tender and 

 delicate sorts : generally let the refreshments of water be repeated 

 moderately once every two days in warm dry weather, which will be 

 of great service to all kinds of seedling plants. 



Shade will also prove very beneficial in the middle of hot sunny 

 days, to many of the choice kinds of seedling-trees and shrubs, about 

 the time of their first appearing, and for some time after. 



These young plants may be shaded from the sun occasionally, by 

 fixing hoops across the beds, then let mats, canvas or the like, be 

 drawn over the hoops as often as occasion requires. 



Where there are boxes, pots, or tubs of seedling plants, let them 

 be placed in a shady situation, about the middle, or towards the latter 

 end of this month, where they may have the morning and afternoon 

 sun only, carefully protecting them from its mid-day influence. 



All beds of seedling trees and shrubs whatever, must be kept per- 

 fectly clean from weeds. This should be carefully attended to, for 

 the weeds are of much quicker growth than the young seedling plants, 

 and would soon get the start of them if permitted to stand. There- 

 fore, let such as soon as they appear in the beds be pricked out before 

 they get to any great head, performing it by a very careful hand- 

 weeding. 



HOEING AND WEEDING. 



Hoe and destroy weeds between the rows of young trees ; they will 

 now arise abundantly from seeds, but by applying the hoe to them 

 while young, they may be very expeditiously destroyed. Choose dry 

 weather, let the hoe be sharp, take advantage of the weeds while they 

 are small, and cut them up clean within the ground. 



There is nothing like destroying weeds in due time, for when they 



