124: THE NUESEET. 



but will require to be " bedded out," that is, set closely 

 in beds by themselves, where they can remain for one or 

 two years, until they are large and strong enough for root 

 grafting, or for the nursery rows. Unless in the case of 

 stocks scarce and difficult to procure, this third class had 

 better be thro■^^^l away at once, as it will cost as much to 

 nurse them as to raise fine stocks from the seed. 



2d. Time to take ujp.- — There is but one proper time to 

 take up all seedlings and rooted layers for stocks, and that 

 is the fall, and this for several reasons. The first is, they 

 are all liable to injury by the frosts of winter ; seedlings 

 have no side roots to hold them in the ground, and layers 

 are near the surface, so that the freezing and thawing 

 draws them up ; the roots are thus exposed and seriously 

 injured. Tlie second is, they can be dressed during the 

 winter in the cellar, and be ready for planting in spring. 

 When taken up they can be laid closely in by the roots 

 in the soil in a dry place, and covered over so as to 

 exclude frost. "When out-door work is over, they can be 

 uncovered, taken into the cellar and dressed, and laid in 

 again by the roots carefully in the same place, which 

 should be protected from frost, of course, in the mean 

 time. The third reason is, that when seedlings are taken 

 up in the fall, the ground can be prepared for another 

 crop ; and this is of considerable importance. In the 

 case of layers, the stools or mother plants can be manured, 

 dressed, and put in order for another season's growth ; 

 and this, also, is important. Such are some of the advan- 

 tages, or, in fact, the necessities of taking up stocks in the 

 fall. 



3d. Hoio to take up. — Seedlings are very easily taken 

 up, without in the least mutilating the roots, in two 

 w^ays. If one person do the work, he should begin at 

 one end of the row, and with a common spade, or, which 

 is better, one with three strong prongs, a foot long and 



