J-EB.J THE NURSERY. 145 



effected, the kernels cannot vegetate. Hence the necessity and great 

 advantage of not burying the stones in the earth, as injudiciously 

 practised by many ; for if so treated, they would not have the advan- 

 tage destined by nature for their due preparation, and would labour 

 under many other disadvantages, as hereafter noticed. 



It is well known, that many kinds of seeds, when buried in the 

 earth, below the power of vegetation, remain in an inactive state for 

 several years, even thos whose nature it is to vegetate the first 

 season, when properly exposed ; how much more so must it be, 

 with seeds of such tardy vegetation as haws, and many other 

 sorts : but by being thus exposed to the influence of the sun and 

 air, and frequently turned as before directed, all become equally and 

 sufficiently prepared, and will not fail, when sowed in due season 

 and suitable soil, to reward the judicious cultivator with an abund- 

 ant crop. 



When those seeds are buried deep, and not mixed with a due 

 quantity of earth, as before observed, they are subject to ferment 

 too powerfully, and also to be injured by too much wet, and will 

 never be found, more especially, when large quantities of them are 

 together, to vegetate equally ; those near the surface, and sides of 

 the pit, doing tolerably well ; some of the others not growing until a 

 full year after being sowed, and the greater number not at all. 



There is not the least danger to be apprehended from frost 

 injuring the seeds, whilst so much exposed to it in those ridges ; 

 however, it will not be amiss to strew a light covering of long litter 

 over them, on the approach of winter ; which will keep them dry, and 

 consequently in a better state for sowing, when the season arrives. 



The above mode of preparation, is the result of the Author's ex- 

 perience, for upwards of twenty years ; being in the habit of raising 

 several millions of thorn quicks annually. 



Your haws being prepared, as above, make ready a piece of good 

 rich ground, neither upon an elevated situation, nor too low ; in the 

 former, the summer drought would be unfriendly, and in the latter, 

 they would be subject to mildew : this must be done as early in 

 spring as you can get the ground to work freely and pulverize well ; 

 for the haws begin to throw out roots at a very early period r and if 

 not sown at this time, or before, a great number of those roots will 

 be broken off in the act of sowing, and thereby totally lost ; the 

 others which escape this accident, having their radicles extended 

 on the surface, penetrate the earth at the extreme points of those 

 roots, forming right angles with the parts already produced, by 

 which means they can never drive up the seed-leaves, with as much 

 vigour as if the radicles descended immediately in a perpendicular 

 direction from the stones of the fruit ; hence the necessity of early 

 sowing. 



The ground, however, must not be wrought while wet, or at least 

 the seeds should not be covered with wet or heavy earth, nor too 

 deep ; for if the surface should cake, or become stiff in consequence 

 of dry weather ensuing, few of these young plants, having broad 

 seed-leaves, could bear up through it j therefore, you must be very 



