PROPAGATING TREES AND SHRUBS. 



great advantage. Some seeds do not come up until the 

 second year, such as the ash, Pyrus, thorn, etc., and in these 

 cases it is but a waste of ground to sow them as collected. 

 They should be mixed with sand, as before directed, and 

 stored away for a year before being sown. 



It should also be remembered that, as a rule, the soonei 

 seeds are sown after being collected the stronger will be the 

 young plants. 



Soon after germination, hand weeding must be commenced, 

 and this may most successfully be performed after a shower 

 of rain, as the young plants then suffer less from loosening 

 of the soil, consequent on pulling out the weeds, than would 

 be the case in dry and warm weather. 



The above method of raising plants from seeds will fall in 

 with most cases, but with those of choice or half-hardy trees 

 the shelter afforded by a frame is usually provided. In this 

 case the seeds are sown in pots or shallow boxes, according 

 to quantity, and placed in an unheated frame. 



The best time for seed-sowing is from the first to the j 

 fifteenth of April. 



Transplanting the young seedlings may be taken in hand 

 usually after the first year, but no hard-and-fast line can be 

 laid down, so much depending on the season and rate of 

 growth of the young plants ; but the experienced eye can 

 always tell when seedlings should be lined out. The best 

 time for this operation is after the spring frosts are at an end, 

 for, if planted out in the autumn, the frost is apt to lift the 

 tiny seedlings wholesale from the ground. 



After this they should be transplanted at least every 

 second year until planted out permanently. 



(2.) By Cuttings. Propagating trees and shrubs irom 

 cutting is at once a simple and inexpensive way of getting 

 up a stock of such kinds as may be increased in that way. 

 The best months are August and September, at which time 

 the temperature of the earth and air are about equal, and 

 when roots are most readily emitted. 



Choose a sheltered and partially shady border for the in- 

 sertion of the cuttings, and be sure that the soil is not stiff 

 and water-logged, but fine, rather inclined to sandy, and 



31 



