154 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



nature, where the seed is exposed to the air and weather, or eaten 

 b}' the birds and voided ; but I am speaking of artificial cultiva- 

 tion. When magnolia seed is to be sown out of doors in New 

 England it is best, after washing it out, to put it in pots or boxes 

 of sand, — that is, in alternate layers of sand and seed, — and place 

 it in a frame or cellar, where it does not freeze, until the time of 

 sowing in May. This is a good way to keep seeds for which we 

 may have no place prepared, or which may arrive in late fall or 

 winter, when it is impossible to get them into the ground. Very 

 often it is more convenient to put seeds away in this manner until 

 spring, than to sow in the fall ; but it will not answer for seeds 

 which need frost. 



When seeds are sown in the fall it is well, as soon as the ground 

 is frozen, to cover the beds or rows with a light covering of hay, 

 pine needles, or leaves ; which will keep the ground from heaving, 

 and the heavy spring rains from washing up the seeds. If closely 

 looked after, the covering may be left on until the seed shows signs 

 of germination, which, in the case of large nuts, will be in June, 

 when it should be carefully removed ; this will also save a great 

 amount of weeding. 



All seed beds and rows should be kept free from weeds and, 

 except where sown broadcast, as soon as up the ground should be 

 hoed or cultivated frequently ; this causes the 3'oung plants to push 

 with greater vigor, and makes them better able to withstand 

 drought. If the weather becomes very warm and dr^' the beds or 

 rows of young seedlings should be well watered once or twice a 

 week, — not by a slight sprinkling on the surface, but b}' a 

 good thorough soaking, wetting the ground six or eight inches in 

 depth. After the 1st of September the waterings ma}' be dis- 

 continued, to allow the plants to ripen up their growth. 



At the approach of winter all young seedlings that were sown 

 in drills will stand better if a plough is run between them throwing 

 a furrow against the stems, so as to cover them several inches 

 deep ; this keeps the young plants from heaving with the frost, and 

 also keeps the water and ice from settling around the 3'oung stems, 

 which often causes great injury. Those sown broadcast should 

 have a slight covering of hay or leaves, as soon as the ground is 

 frozen, which is usually from the 25th of November to the 1st of 

 December in this vicinitj'. 



Second Year's Treatment. — About the first or second week in 

 April the covering should be removed, the young trees carefully taken 



