36 NEW AMERICAN OKCHARDrST. 



corrupt and injure them : finish by treading the ground 

 very hard. When evergreen trees are set, it is generally 

 considered indispensable to pour at once a few gallons of 

 water around the tree previous to treading hard the earth ; 

 finish earthing, and tread hard an hour afterwards. This 

 is an excellent and safe mode with regard to any tree. 



SECTION VII. PROP ACATioNr 



Most of the species of trees and ligneous plants are 

 propagated by seeds, and some may be propagated by cut- 

 tings, and all by layers. 



BY SEEDS. In raising trees, &c., from the seeds, it is 

 generally a good rule to plant or sow them as soon as they 

 are mature and gathered from the tree. Those seeds, how- 

 ever, which are enveloped in a pulp, must first be separated. 

 Those of the hawthorn and many other kinds, which are 

 possessed of a gummy or resinous pulp, will not vegetate 

 till the second year, unless first separated and subjected to 

 the action of frost ; or the seeds of the locust and many 

 other kinds, which are possessed of hard shells, and there- 

 fore require to be frozen beneath the soil, may be made to 

 vegetate quickly by being covered with boiling water and 

 set in a warm place ; as the seeds become swollen, they are 

 separated and planted, and fresh boiling water is poured 

 over the remainder every twenty-four hours, till all are 

 prepared. 



There are many advantages attending the practice of 

 causing seeds of various kinds to germinate before being 

 planted. Such seeds rise at once in advance of the weeds, 

 and strike root downwards while the earth is yet humid, 

 and before the scorching sun has dried up the moisture, 

 thus rendering it impossible for any seeds to vegetate near 

 its surface. 



Small seeds of many species may be enclosed in small 

 linen bags, or in moss or cotton, and steeped a few hours 

 in lukewarm water ; these, being suspended, during night, 

 in a chimney where a fire has been kept during the day, 

 will vegetate by morning. This is an easy mode which 

 has been recommended. More slow-growing seeds, after 

 steeping a day in warm water, are to be kept for several 

 days in a lukewarm atmosphere. 



Seeds steeped in a weak solution of muriate of lime, or 



