442 THE NURSERY. [JUNE 



TRANSPLANTING SEEDLING PINES AND FIRS. 



It has been advised by some writers on gardening, of consider- 

 able celebrity, to plant out in this month pines, firs, &c., from the 

 seed-beds ; and asserted " that they would be much stronger and 

 better prepared to live through the winter by this treatment than if 

 suffered to remain in the seed-beds, as their roots would be fixed in 

 the ground and their stems shorter." The reverse of this I have 

 experienced in upwards of twenty years' practice, and therefore have 

 here noticed it, lest my readers should be led astray by such respect- 

 able authorities. The true method of treating these and such plants 

 is, frequently during the summer months, as they advance in growth, 

 to sift some loose earth over them in the seed-beds till it comes up 

 to the seed leaves, by which the stems are protected, and, as it were, 

 shortened, without disturbing their roots or checking their growth ; 

 and, besides, it tends to keep the moisture confined to the earth by 

 preventing its too sudden evaporation, and the loose sifted mould 

 attracts the dews and imbibes the rains, when such fall, by which 

 means the plants are kept cool, moist, and in a constant growing 

 state. 



PROPAGATING EVERGREENS AND OTHER TREES AND SHRUBS BY 

 LAYERS. 



Most kinds of evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs may now 

 be propagated by laying the present year's shoots; being soft and 

 tender, they will emit roots much more freely than the older wood; 

 and several sorts that would not root for two years if laid in spring 

 or autumn, by this method will be well rooted the autumn twelve 

 months after laying, and many kinds before the ensuing winter. 

 Virgin's bower, passion flowers, trumpet flowers, common jasmine, 

 and most of the climbing plants root immediately when laid in this 

 way. For the various methods of performing this operation, see 

 page 300. 



After these are laid you should observe to water them occasionally 

 in dry weather, which will greatly promote their rooting. But these 

 waterings should not be too often repeated, nor too abundantly given 

 at a time, for that would rot the tender fibres as they proceed from 

 the layers; therefore the best method is to lay mulch on the surface 

 of the ground, after the layers are put down, to prevent the sun from 

 drying it too fast, then a little water will be sufficient, and the layers 

 will more certainly take root. 



TRIM UP EVERGREENS. 



Evergreens should now be trimmed up according to the uses for 

 which they are designed ; for if you suffer them to grow rude in 

 summer, they cannot be so easily reduced afterwards ; besides, the 

 ruder they grow the more naked they will be near the stems. 



