THE HOME NDBSEBY. 



The site chosen for the seed-beds should be naturally 

 sheltered, or, failing this, such artificial shelter as is found 

 necessary should be provided, as exposure of the young plants 

 to cold, cutting winds causes them to become stunted and 

 bark-bound. There should be a few cold frames for raising 

 choice seeds and cuttings, but, as a rule, the less glass the 

 better. In stocking the home nursery, it is always preferable 

 to buy young plants of the kinds most needed, as also a few 

 older specimens of such kinds as it may be deemed advisable 

 to propagate from layers or by cuttings. Seedlings of many 

 trees and shrubs can be procured from plantations on the 

 estate, and when such are grown on, and carefully transplanted 

 for two, three, or four years in the nursery borders, they soon 

 form stout, bushy, and well-rooted specimens of the greatest 

 value for forest planting. This is a good and inexpensive 

 way of getting up a stock of many trees and shrubs, but particu- 

 larly such as are reproduced plentifully in a wild state. In 

 the management of a home nursery the amount of care and 

 attention required is certainly great; but any trouble, as well 

 as expense, connected with starting and keeping it in good 

 condition afterwards will be amply repaid by the increased 

 value and superiority of the stock obtained. 



In the working of the home nursery no hard-and-fast lines 

 can be laid down, the nature of the season having much to 

 do with the time at which the various operations may be 

 taken in hand. A wet spring retards seed-sowing, a damp 

 summer the killing-out of weeds and cleaning of the ground, 

 and early autumn frosts transplanting. 



For the various seasons the nursery- work might, howeverv 

 be sketched as follows : 



Spring. By February, all trenching, digging, manuring, 

 top-dressing, and such-like work should be completed. Larch 

 and thorn should be planted at once, as they start early into 

 growth, following up with the various kinds of hardwoods 

 and pines. Layers should be planted out and trees for graft- 

 ing and budding made ready. Collect larch and pine cones, 

 and when quite dry store away in a cool, airy place, until 

 wanted for sowing. During March and April general graft- 

 ing may be taken in hand. Ornamental coniferae may be 



17 



