156 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETr. 



into proper shape until they have reached the desired size. If 

 often transplanted they may be successfully removed when from 

 fifteen to eighteen, or even twentj' feet in height ; though I believe 

 that vigorous young trees, from one to three feet high, when set 

 out where they are to remain, will make much finer specimens if 

 soil, preparation, and care be equal. 



The Conifers, such as Pine, Spruce, Larch, Cedar, and Hemlock 

 require much mors attention and care to grow from seed than any 

 other class of trees, and many of the finest kinds it is impracticable 

 to raise out of doors in our New England climate, though the com- 

 mon ones with care and attention may be raised quite successfully. 

 The ground for these seeds should be a light, rich loam, deep and 

 well pulverized, or, if not rich, made so with a good dressing of well- 

 decomposed manure. The beds should be laid off five feet wide, 

 and the alleys three feet. Along both sides of the beds, at inter- 

 vals of five or six feet, drive a row of small posts that will rise six 

 or eight inches above the surface of the beds. The beds should 

 be a few inches higher than the paths, so that water will not stand 

 on them. The situation should be as sheltered as possible both 

 from the mid-day sun and drying winds ; the north or east side of 

 a hedge or fence is a favorable position. The beds being all pre- 

 pared and raked ver}' fine, as soon as the weather becomes settled 

 — say from the 10th to the 20th of May — the seed may be sown 

 thinl}', in rows six inches apart, across the beds, or broadcast, and 

 slightly covered, — certainly not more than twice their own diame- 

 ter. The sowing in rows is most convenient in working them, 

 both in the way of keeping the beds clean and stirring the soil 

 among the young plants. If sown broadcast they should be 

 lightly raked in and the bed rolled with a light wooden roller. I 

 would here say that all seeds sown during warm, dr^^ weather are 

 much benefited by having the ground lightly rolled over them. 

 The sowing being completed, place on the posts before mentioned 

 lath screens made the width of the bed, with the lalhs not more 

 than an inch apart. This will screen the plants from the sun and 

 in part protect them from the birds, which often pick up the young 

 seedlings that are just breaking ground. If no laths are handy the 

 seed beds can be covered with pine, hemlock, or cedar branches, 

 quite thickly at first; but the beds must be watched carefully, and 

 as soon as the young plants begin to appear the branches should 

 be gradually removed, until only enough are left to slightly shade 

 the young plants, and these should be raised some inches above 



