KAISING PLANTS IN NURSERIES. 195 



spring, stream, or tank, from which the water can be easily 

 brought into the nursery. In the absence of such a supply 

 one or more wells must be sunk, and the water lifted. 



The water can be distributed by hand, or by irrigation. 

 The latter can be done in two ways, by percolation or by 

 flooding, according as to whether the water stands in channels 

 between the beds, or is allowed to cover the surface of the beds. 

 Flooding is more effective, but it is followed by the formation 

 of a hard crust on the surface, which requires to be broken ; 

 in the majority of cases percolation is preferable. 



y. Prepay ath) II of the Soil. 



It is highly desirable that the soil of the nursery should be 

 free from stones and roots, and as finely divided as possible, 

 in other words it should be prepared in the same way as 

 garden soil. The depth to which the soil should be worked 

 depends on the species and nature of the desired plants. 

 Where a compact shallow root system is wanted, it is best 

 not to work too deep, but to see that the surface soil is fertile ; 

 if deep rooted plants are desired, the soil must be worked to a 

 considerable depth. If one or two kinds of plants are to be 

 raised, their special wants can be considered in the first culti- 

 vation of the soil ; as a rule, however, more species, and those 

 of varjdng requirements, are wanted, which it is convenient to 

 raise in any part ol: the nursery. Under these circumstances 

 it is generally preferable to prepare the whole nursery for the 

 production of any kind of plants. In a country with a 

 climate like that of Britain, the best plan is to trench the 

 nursery to a depth of not less than 2 feet. During this 

 operation all stones and roots should be removed, the land 

 levelled as far as practicable, or terraced on sloping ground, 

 and the best earth kept near the surface. The most suitable 

 time for trenching is autumn, so that the ground may lie 

 fallow over winter and be exposed to the effects of frosts 

 and of the winter rains. In the following spring the soil 

 should again be worked, either with plough, spade, or 



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