144 THE NURSERt. [NIB, 



rambling shoots, let them be reduced to some order and form, by 

 cutting out or shortening such as may require any regulation, 

 whereby to form a somewhat orderly shape in the general head. 

 Likewise suckers arising from the roots should generally be cleared 

 off; and if carefully detached with some roots to each, the best of 

 them, if wanted, may be planted in nursery rows at proper distances ; 

 they will make good plants in two or three year's time ; and the 

 mother plants being cleared therefrom, will be preserved in a more 

 regular proper growth. 



After the above occasional pruning, let the ground be dug between 

 the rows of the continuing shrubs, if not done before ; digging it 

 one spade deep, in a neat regular manner, to remain in good culti- 

 vated order all the spring and ensuing summer. 



Sowing- Stones to raise Stocks for Grafting, &c. 



As early as possible this month, sow the stones of plums, peaches, 

 nectarines, apricots and cherries, &c. which were preserved in sand 

 or earth, from the time of the fruit being ripe till this period ; for 

 unless they were preserved in this way, few of them will grow ; 

 these may either be sown in drills, or broad cast in a bed, and 

 covered from an inch, to two inches deep, according to the light- 

 ness of the soil and the proportionate size of the stones. I am 

 by no means an advocate for covering seeds of any kind too deep> 

 never having had good success from such. If the above sorts are 

 covered but lightly, they will easily grow through it, and when up, 

 you can refresh them by sifting fresh earth over them if in beds, 

 and if in drills, by drawing it to their stems. 



Sowing Haws for the raising of Thorn-quicks. 



Having collected a sufficiency of fruit, of the various kinds of 

 hawthorn which you desire to propagate, the autumn twelve months 

 previous to the time of sowing, which is, as early in spring as it is 

 possible to get the ground in a good state of culture to receive them ; 

 proceed to sowing as hereafter directed. 



When you collect these seeds in autumn, mix them with equal 

 quantities of light sandy earth, and lay them in that state on the sur- 

 face of a dry spot of ground in your best enclosed garden, where they 

 cannot be disturbed by hogs, Sec. form this mixture into a narrow 

 sloping ridge, tapering to the top, and cover it with light loose earth 

 two inches thick all over ; the April following turn this ridge, mix- 

 ing the whole together, and form it again in the same way, covering 

 in like manner as before, with two inches deep of light loose earth ; 

 repeat this again in the months of July and August, by which the 

 seeds in every part will be equally prepared for vegetation. A 

 trench must be cut round this ridge to prevent any water from 

 lodging about the seeds ; for this would rot many and injure others, 

 especially in the second winter, when the stones would be loos- 

 ing their cementing quality, and begin to open ; for until this is 



