48 THE NURSERY. [JAN. 



roots, and close about the stems, to settle the plants firmly in their 

 proper position. 



Herbaceous fibrous-rooted plants are, for the most part, planted 

 with a dibble, except when the roots are large and spreading, or 

 such as are removed with balls of earth ; then they are more com- 

 monly planted by holing them in with a garden trowel, or small 

 spade. 



Bulbous and tuberous-rooted plants, sometimes are planted with 

 a dibble, but many sorts may also be planted in drills drawn with a 

 hoe. These sorts are also sometimes planted as follows : rake or 

 trim the earth from off the top of the beds from about three to 

 four inches deep, into the alleys, then place the roots in rows 

 upon the surface, thrusting the bottom a little into the ground, and 

 immediately cover them with the earth which was drawn off into 

 the alleys for that purpose, spreading it evenly over every part, so 

 as to bury all the roots an equal depth. 



But as to the tender kinds of exotic plants that require occasional 

 shelter whilst young, many of them should be potted, in order for 

 moving to a warm situation in winter, or some into frames, Sec. to 

 have occasional shelter from frost, by glasses or mats, as they shall 

 require ; hardening them, however, by degrees to bear the open 

 air fully in the nursery the year round. 



And the most tender kinds that require the akl of a green-house 

 or stove, must all be potted and placed among the respective plants 

 of those conservatories. 



General Culture of the Plants of this Department. 



With respect to the management of the various hardy nursery- 

 plants ;.... 



Those designed as stocks for fruit-trees, should have their stems 

 generally cleared from lateral shoots, so as to form a clean straight 

 stem, but never to shorten the leading shoot, unless it is decayed, or 

 becomes very crooked, in which case it may be proper to cut it 

 down low in spring, and it will shoot out again ; training the main 

 shoot for a stem, with its top entire for the present, till grafted or 

 budded. 



But in the above nursery culture, of the fruit-tree kind, some sorts 

 designed for principal wall or espalier trees, should, when of one 

 year's growth from grafting and budding, be transplanted against 

 some close fence in the nursery, either a wall, paling, or trellis, Sec. 

 and their first graft or bud-shoot headed down in the spring, to pro- 

 mote an emission of lower lateral shoots and branches, in order to 

 be regularly trained to the fence in a spreading manner for two 

 years* or more, or till wanted, whereby to form the head in a regu- 

 lar spreading growth for the intended purpose of garden-trees, which 

 in the public nurseries in particular, should always be ready in pro- 

 per training to supply those who may wish to have their espaliers, 

 &c. covered as soon as possible by means of such ready trained 

 trees. 



