RAISING PLANTS IN NURSERIES. 207 



Earthworms do damage by dragging small seedlings into 

 their burrows. 



Hares, rabbits, etc., must be kept out by fencing with wire 

 netting. Squirrels must be shot. 



Amongst insects, the cockchafer larvae and the wireworms 

 are the most destructive in temperate Europe. In both cases 

 damage is difficult to prevent. Cockchafers are specially fond 

 of laying eggs in clearings in the forest, such as a nursery ; 

 and if this be repeated once or twice, it may be necessary to 

 change the site of the nursery. Almost the only way to meet 

 the damage in the case of grubs of the cockchafer and the 

 wireworm is to collect them, or to kill them with gas lime. 



(2.) Extremes of climate make themselves felt by frost or 

 drought. 



In the first place a considerable fall of temperature inter- 

 feres with the proper germination of the seeds, and it may 

 injure young seedlings. Such damage is prevented by cover- 

 ing the seed beds with moss, grass, straw, needles, or short 

 branches of conifers, or by erecting a temporary roof at a con- 

 venient height over the seed beds. Very delicate seedlings 

 may be raised under glass. The covering should be removed 

 during the day and replaced in the evening. Somewhat later 

 on, alternate freezing and thawing may lift the young plants 

 out of the ground ; this can be prevented by covering the space 

 between the lines with moss or sawdust, or by heaping earth 

 on to the plants. If, nevertheless, it should occur, the plants 

 must be speedily put back into the ground. 



Damage by drought is prevented somewhat in the same 

 way as that by frost, best by shades, which are placed over- 

 head, or on the sunny side of the beds. If the dry weather 

 should last for some time, the beds may have to be watered. 

 This, if once commenced, must be continued until rain falls. 

 As watering is expensive, unless it can be done by irrigation 

 with water obtained from a higher point, it is only done when 

 absolutely necessary. Many British nurserymen never water ; 

 tliey prefer taking their chance. In more southern countries 



