22 THE FOREST TREE CULTURIST. 
varieties are sown, as such must not be covered more than 
one fourth of an inch deep; and unless the surface of the 
soil is kept moist, they will very likely fail to come up. A 
very light sprinkling every day in dry weather is what 
they require, not a drenching to-day and no more for a 
week or two. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. 
When the plants first come up, and have formed but 
few leaves, is the time the most care must be used in 
watering, and no more should be applied than they actu- 
ally require to keep them from suffering for the want of it. 
Too much moisture at this time, especially if the weather 
is very warm, will cause them to damp off, or, in other 
words, rot off. Remove the screens in cloudy weather 
that the plants may get plenty of air, for our object just 
at this time is to harden the plants or make their stems 
firm and woody, not by drying them, but by a healthy 
growth. So soon as they are from two to six inches in 
height (according to the varieties), very little care is re- 
quired. If the weather should be very dry, give them 
water; but the sprinklings may be dispensed with, and a 
good soaking be given instead, but only occasionally or 
when the plants really need it. For evergreens, the screens 
may be kept on the beds most of the summer, but remove 
toward fall so that the plants may be thoroughly ripened. 
At the approach of winter, or so soon as the ground begins 
to freeze, put on the sereens or lay strips across the top of . 
the frames, and on these place straw, hay, cornstalks, ever- 
green boughs, or any such material that may be at hand. 
It is not expected that the frost will be entirely excluded, 
nor would it be advisable to do so, for there would be 
