PROPAGATION OF TREES AND SHRUBS FROM SEED. 161 



such as azalea, rhododendron, kalniia, and others, a special treat- 

 ment is required, which 1 will speak of later. 



In the fall of the first 3'ear the boxes of young trees may be 

 gathered t(jgetLier and wintered in a deep pit or frame and slightly 

 covered with meadow ha}'. If no frame is available, three or 

 four inches of pine needles or leaves may be placed over the 

 boxes, and they may then be left until spi-ing ; but on no account 

 should the boxes be left without any protection, as the young 

 seedlings will then suffer very much in so little depth of soil. 



All seedling trees can be transplanted when very young as 

 easily as cabbages or tomatoes if taken as good care of; and 

 man}' of them are benefited by the operation. We transplant 

 thousands of them ever}- year with but little loss. The best time 

 is when they are making their first or second rough leaf. 



In the spring of the second year all the young seedlings should 

 be transplanted from the seed boxes to the nursery beds, or the 

 larger ones planted where they are to remain ; and for chestnuts, 

 hickories, and oaks I believe it is best to plant them from the seed 

 box to the field where they are to remain. If planted in nursery 

 beds, or rows, the treatment will be the same as I have spoken of 

 under the head of treatment in nurseries. 



The boxes I have mentioned are usually from fourteen to sixteen 

 inches square, and will hold from 100 to 125 oaks, hickories, 

 chestnuts, or beeches ; 175 to 200 ashes or maples ; 250 birches or 

 elms ; and so on according to the growth of the plants. Where a 

 greenhouse can be used for this purpose, with frames to harden oft 

 the young seedlings, much better results can be obtained, and 

 many of the finer seeds can be grown, which it is next to impos- 

 sible to grow in large quantities out of doors. 



In conclusion I would sa}' that, while I have not mentioned every 

 tree by itself, the general principles are the same for aU ; that as 

 a rule the soil should be of the best description and sheltered ; that 

 all seeds should be covered only a little, if any, deeper than the diam- 

 eter of the seed ; that they should be kept clean from \veeds, the 

 watering well looked to, and the shading, in the case of the finer 

 seeds, be carefully attended to. They should be protected tlie first 

 season, and in the end will well repay all the care and attention 

 that have been bestowed upon them ; and anyone owning a few acres 

 of land, who will plant a few boxes of chestnuts, black walnuts, 

 beech, oak, hickory, or other hard wood trees, that are usually con- 

 sidered so difficult to transplant, after growing them one year in the 



