THE HOME NURSERY. 



pruned and transplanted, and towards the middle of April 

 plants from the seed-beds may safely be lined out in a 

 sheltered part of the nursery. Tree seeds of all kinds should 

 be collected as opportunity offers. In February sow yew, 

 holly, and thorn; in March, birch, beech, and alder; in April, 

 larch, silver fir, Scotch, Austrian, and Corsican pines ; and 

 seeds of the less hardy coniferse may be sown in pans or 

 boxes and placed in a cool frame. General nursery-work 

 should be finished up by the end of April. 



Summer. The keeping down of weeds, watering and 

 shading seed-beds, and turning over and mixing of compost- 

 heaps will be the principal work for the months of May, 

 June, and July. Hollies should be planted out in May, and 

 seedlings of the same kind lined out in the nursery borders. 



Elm seeds may be collected as they ripen, and some of 

 these sown in well-pulverised beds in June. 



Autumn. Weeds will still require attention, particularly 

 in seed-beds, and amongst young trees that have been 

 recently planted out. General transplanting of shrubs, 

 particularly evergreens, may now go on, and seedlings be 

 lined out. Cuttings should be inserted in light sandy soil 

 by the middle of August, or when the temperature of the 

 earth and air is most nearly equal. 



Trim nursery fences, cut grass, clean walks and roads, 

 and attend generally to neatness and order. Look over the 

 breaks of pines, and remove and burn such as are attacked 

 by any of the various insect pests to which they are liable* 

 The seeds of ash, hornbeam, yew, and thorn should be 

 collected and placed in barrels with about an equal bulk of 

 sand, to hasten the decomposition of the outer coating. 



Winter. The early winter months will be a busy time in 

 the nursery, the lifting and dispatching of trees for forest - 

 planting being one of the principal operations at least, so 

 long as the weather remains mild and open. As time per- 

 mits, two and three year old plants should be lined out, well- 

 rooted cuttings lifted and transplanted, and layers from old 

 stools carefully cut away and placed in the borders for a 

 year or two before being finally planted out. Turn manure- 

 heaps, and add a small quantity of fresh lime to hasten 



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