MARGE.] THE NURSERY. 267 



for all the kinds, when lightly covered, which is inclispensible to 

 their growth, generally carry up the seeds on their tops; and if 

 attacked by birds, which are extremely fond of them, the far 

 greater number will be destroyed. 



The beds must he kept, completely free from weeds cf any 

 kind, from the moment the seeds are sown, during the continuance 

 of the plants therein ; and if you perceive their leaves turn foxy in 

 summer, by heat or drought, it will be necessary to give them occa- 

 sional shade and water. In the month of June following, sift some 

 fine, light, rich earth, over the beds, so as to just come up to the 

 foliage without covering it ; which, will protect their yet tender 

 stems, prevent their being scalded by extraordinary heat, which 

 often melts them away, so as to fall flat, whilst the foliage appears 

 fresh ; and besides, it will help to retain the moisture about their 

 Toots and fibers. 



The spring following, early in April, or as soon as you perceive 

 an inclination in the buds to push, pull up the largest grown plants, 

 of such kinds as have arrived at the height of three inches or up- 

 wards, but not otherwise, and plant them in drills made with a hoe 

 or spade for their reception, eighteen inches or two feet asunder, 

 and eight inches plant from plant in the rows ; just so deep, as that 

 the earth may come up to their foliage ; close it well about the roots, 

 and water them occasionally till sufficiently taken with the earth 

 and growing freely, and if repeated occasionally during the summer 

 and early autumn, the better ; always giving it about the setting or 

 going down of the sun. The spring following, that is, when they 

 have two years growth in the seed-beds, take them all up out of 

 the face, with a spade, without injuring the roots or fibers, and 

 plant them as above, without attempting to trim them, but laying 

 them in a spreading and horizontal manner in the drills. If the 

 ground is good 'and the season proves favourable, a great number 

 of the Larch, in particular, will have grown to a sufficient size, for 

 transplanting into nursery-rows, by the ensuing spring. 



When the plants have stood two or three years in those rpws, 

 they maybe planted in others at greater distances, or finally where 

 they are intended to remain ; observing however, that the fourth or 

 fifth year of their growth are the most successful periods for a final 

 transplanting ; which ought always to be done, in the middle states, 

 between the first and fifteenth of April, earlier in the southern, and 

 not much later in the eastern states, 



Alihxa Frutex. Laburnum^ qnd Snowy Medlar. 



The Hibiscus syriacus, or Althsea Frutex, is propagated by sow- 

 ing the seeds in March, which grow very freely ; all the varieties cf 

 it, take well by grafting or budding, on one another. 



The Cylissus Laburnum, or common Laburnum, grows freely 

 by sowing the seed in spring, and covering it as well as the former, 

 about half an inch deep. 



The Mesfiilia canadcnsis, or Snowy Medlar, is a beautiful and 

 early flowering shrub, rises to a good height, and is a great ornament 



