70 AVORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1899. 



soil at the time of sowing should be neither wet nor dry, but in 

 such a condition that it can be raked without its clogging. If it 

 is too wet many fine seed will scarcely come through, while if 

 too dry the seed is apt to work out, unless covered "deeper than 

 desired. 



A supply of water should be at hand, ready to be used on all 

 lightly rooted plants during dry weather. It is also well to 

 have lath screens to protect delicate plants from the hot sun. 

 If in the fall we begin with the Oaks, as the acorns do not long 

 retain their vitality (neither does Chinquapin, Chestnut or 

 Beech) ; to insure success these should be put in boxes of earth 

 or sand, as soon as gathered. If sown broadcast, the nuts 

 should be scattered thinly over the bed and pressed down with 

 the back of a spade or a light wooden roller and covered a little 

 more than the diameter of the seed, which should be over an 

 inch for the Beech and Oak, and two or more inches for the 

 Hickory. Some prefer making shallow drills with the plough 

 and sowing thickly. The Maples, with the exception of rubra 

 and dasycarpum (these ripen in June), should be sown as soon 

 as possible after gathering, otherwise they will not come up 

 until the second year. The Ash must also be sown as soon 

 as gathered, otherwise it will not come up until the second year. 

 Carpinus, Ostrya, Cornus florida, Amelanchier, Celtis and 

 Viburnums seldom come up until the second year. The Red- 

 bud, Kentucky Coffee-tree and Yellow Wood need to have 

 boiling water poured on them, letting them stand for twenty-four 

 hours, then take those that have swollen, which are considered 

 fit for sowing, and treat the rest to a hot bath a^ain. The 

 Ailanthus, Catalpa, Mulberry, Birch and Alder are best sown in 

 spring as soon as the ground is dry enough to work. The Red 

 and White Maple, the Elm, and Betula nigra ripen early and 

 should be sown as soon as gathered, and if well cared for make 

 good plants the first year. Magnolias should not be sown out- 

 of-doors until the weather becomes warm. The Holly seldom 

 comes up until the second year. Such seed as that of Magno- 

 lias, Roses, Mountain Ash, Celastris, Viburnums, Araelanchiers, 

 and all fleshy, pulpy seed I macerate in water and wash out, 



