234 THE NURSERY. 7 [MARCH. 



evergreens should not be commenced before the beginning of 

 April, and then finished towards the middle of that month, if the 

 season proves favourable. Hollies are best removed towards the 

 end of April. 



Weeding Seedling-Trees and Shrubs. 



Look over the seed-beds of young trees and shrubs ; if weeds 

 t appear on them, let them be carefully picked out by hand in 

 lime, before they mix their roots with those of the plants. 



Watering Seedling-Trees, &c. 



Ill dry warm weather it will be proper to refresh the seed-beds of 

 small young trees and shrubs with water now and then ; a little at 

 each time will do ; let this be clone early in the morning. 



Digging" -vacant Ground, Vc. 



All requisite digging and trenching of vacant quarters of ground 

 in the nursery, designed for plantations of young trees, shrubs, &c. 

 this spring, should now be completed, as soon as possible, in due 

 time for the reception of the respective plants intended ; which, in 

 the deciduous kinds particularly, should be mostly or generally 

 finished by the middle or latter end of this month : and the ever- 

 greens soon after that time. See AfiriL 



Finish all digging between the rows of young trees, See. in this 

 inonth if possible ; and also in all parts where planting is intended 

 this spring, provided that the ground will work freely. 



Propagating Gooseberries and Currants. 



The only proper method of propagating gooseberries, and cur- 

 rants, is by cuttings ; suckers should never be resorted to, except 

 in cases of necessity, for such, will always produce others, nume- 

 rously from their roots, which carry off the nourishment that 

 ought to go to the support of the fruit ; and besides, they form such 

 thickets as to smother, and deprive them of the benefit of a free 

 circulating air. 



The proper cuttings for planting, are the shoots of the last sum- 

 mer's production, of straight clean growth ; they should be taken, 

 from healthy trees, and such as are remarkable, according to their 

 kinds, for bearing the finest fruit : let each be shortened from about 

 ten to twelve, or fifteen to eighteen inches long, according to its 

 strength. 



Previous to planting, cut off every bud as close as possible to the 

 shoot, except three, four, or five, near the top ; which are to be left-, 

 to form the head of the plant. Some people imagine, tfat the buds 

 on those parts inserted in the earth, grow into roots, which is by 

 no means the case, nature never having designed them for such ; 

 the roots or fibres, always strike out through the clean and smooth 



