PROPAGATION OF TREES AND SHRUBS FROM SEED. 163 



roots are so delicate that only a moment's diying makes them 

 almost worthless. After five or six weeks the plants will have 

 covered the surface of the ground in the boxes, when they will 

 again need transplanting, this time half an inch apart, and to be 

 otherwise treated the same as before, alwa3's being sure to use 

 fresh soil and clean boxes at each transplanting. At this stage, if 

 ever3'thing has been carefully attended to, the}' will grow very 

 rapidl}', and will need transplanting the third time, and, if properly 

 cared for, the}' will need to be planted two inches or more apart. 



This frequent transplanting in fresh soil each time keeps the 

 plants from damping and also forms the foundation of a vigorous 

 plant for the future. If rhododendron seedlings are left long in the 

 seed box or pan they are apt to be attacked by a minute fungus, 

 which will often carry off thousands in a night. The best remedy 

 I have found to check it is, at tlie first signs of its appearance, to 

 heat a shovelful of sand quite hot and sift it amongst the young 

 seedlings, using a very fine sieve. Many would think that it 

 would destroy the plants at this tender age, but it does not ; I 

 have tried it on almost all kinds of young seedlings, and have 

 found it very effective in destroying the minute fungus which is 

 such a pest among young plants. About the first of September 

 more air and less moisture may be given, so as to harden the 

 plants off preparatory to their removal to winter quarters, which 

 should be a deep frame or pit in some sheltered situation. They 

 may be put in this pit the first of October ; or sooner, if you need 

 the house for other purposes. In this pit they should have plenty 

 of air every pleasant^day, but should be covered every night to 

 keep them from frost as long as possible. This can readily be 

 done in most seasons up to tlie middle of December or the first of 

 January by a single mat ; they can then be covered with mats, or 

 meadow hay, and will only need to be uncovered once every two 

 weeks for an hour or so to guard against damp or excessive moist- 

 ure, which will often cause a fungus even in a cold pit if kept 

 long without air. In the spring, about the first of May, they can 

 be transplanted into well-prepared beds of peaty soil or a light, 

 sandy loam of good depth. If dry weather sets in they will 

 require plenty of water, as they are not deep-rooted at this time ; 

 if water is handy I give them a good syringing every evening as 

 soon as the sun begins to leave the bed, until the middle of 

 August, when I withhold all moisture so that the plants may ripen 

 well before winter sets in. If they have been well cai-ed for they 



