FEB.] THE NURSERY. 143 



Propagating by Layers. 



The latter end of this month, you may make layers of all such 

 shrubs and trees as are increased by that method : though the best 

 time to do this, is between the first of October and end of November, 

 but where it was omitted at that period it may now be done, and 

 most kinds will still succeed. 



In making layers of any kinds of trees or shrubs, observe to dig 

 round the plant that is to be layed, and, as you go on, bring down 

 the shoots or branches regularly, and ley them along in the earth, 

 with their tops above ground, fastening them securely there with 

 hooked pegs, and then let all the young shoots on each branch be 

 neatly layed, and cover them five or six inches deep with earth, 

 leaving the top of each, three or four, to five or six inches out of the 

 ground. 



It may be of advantage, in laying some of the more hard-wooded 

 kinds, to gash or slit the layers an inch or better by an upward cut 

 on the under side, as intimated in the Nursery, page 53. 



Most kinds of layers, which are now layed, will be tolerably 

 well rooted, and fit to be transplanted by next autumn, some not till 

 the second year : but for general instructions, see the Nursery in 

 October. 



Transplanting Layers. 



Take off the layers of such hardy shrubs and trees as were layed 

 down last year, and which still remain on the stolls. 



Let these layers, as soon as they are taken off, be trimmed and 

 planted in rows in an open situation, two feet or more asunder, 

 according to the size of the plants ; and the plants about twelve or 

 fifteen inches distant in' the rows. 



Pruning, &c. 



Should the weather permit, you ought, towards the latter end of 

 the month, to dig the ground between the rows of your nursery 

 trees and shrubs ; first giving them such necessary pruningas may 

 be wanted ; but if the ground is then bound up with frost, you may 

 perform the latter, and defer the former work, till the frost is away, 

 which then, must be done without delay, especially where the 

 ground is tolerably dry. 



Trim up the stems of such young hardy fruit and forest trees, as 

 require it, especially the deciduous kinds, and also prune off all disor- 

 derly rambling shoots, so as to bring them into a neat and handsome 

 form. 



Prune also the hardy flowering shrubs in Nursery-rows, whereby 

 to regulate any disorderly growths, and to give them a becoming 

 appearance. 



In doing this work, it would generally be proper to prune or train 

 the young plants mostly to short single stems below ; and where 

 the heads of any shrubs are very irregular, or run out in 



