CHAPTER IV 

 NURSERY WORK AND METHODS. 



ASSUMING that the young plant has been raised by one or other of the 

 methods just described, a few words may be devoted to its treatment 

 afterwards. Whether raised from seed or from cuttings, the newly rooted 

 plants stand much too closely together to remain long without mutually 

 damaging each other. Cuttings put in at the most usual time, i.e., July 

 and August, do not grow much that year after the roots have formed. 

 They are, as a rule, most conveniently rooted in pots, and in these they 

 may usually remain undisturbed until the following spring, when they are 

 separated and planted in rows in prepared nursery ground. Plants raised 

 earlier in the season from seeds or soft cuttings, having a growing season 

 in front of them, cannot be wintered in the seed- or cutting-pots. If of 

 vigorous constitution and quick growth, they may be planted out in the 

 nursery ground as soon as well rooted. But as by that time the season is 

 wejl advanced and hot dry days occur, it is usually necessary to give them 

 shading and special attention in watering for a week or two. With 

 delicate, very small or particularly important plants it is better, especially 

 in the case of seedlings, to transplant them ("prick them off" is the 

 common term) into shallow wooden boxes of fine soil, although not so 

 fine as for the seeds themselves. These boxes, 2 or 3 ins. deep, may be 

 purchased cheaply at most horticultural providers. Treated in this way, 

 the baby plants may be kept in frames or even given a mild heat to 

 ensure their quick attachment to the new soil, and loss is reduced to a 

 minimum. Choice rhododendrons and others of the heath family can 

 only be treated satisfactorily in this way. In taking the plants from the 

 seed- or cutting-pots reasonable care should be taken to preserve the 

 roots as much as possible, and, if practicable, to take a little ball of soil as 

 well. As the plants are transferred from the seed-pot to the shallow box, 

 they should be set regularly in rows, so that when again removed from 

 the boxes into the open ground a square block of soil may be cut out 

 and taken with each plant. 



The ground or nursery into which young trees and shrubs are planted 



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