191 PERMANENT NURSERIES. 



The most sensitive part of the seedlings, the region of the root- 

 collum, should be earthed up where the heat of the sun or hot 

 winds are to be feared. Covering the beds with straw or growing 

 alternate lines of lucerne also affords the necessary protection ; but 

 earthing up always yields the best results. In the case of broad- 

 leaved species, earthing up, by withdrawing the buds at the root- 

 collum from the influence of light, guarantees their preservation 

 and assists them to become dormant, thereby insuring the vitality 

 of the future transplants. The earthing up may be effected with 

 the crane-necked (Fig 25) or share (Fig 28) hoes. 



7. Weeding and maintenance of a loose rich soil. 



Weeds amongst the seedlings not only live at the expense of the 

 nutritive matters in the soil intended for the seedlings, but also, 

 owing to their usually greater vigour and their ability to grow up 

 in a dense mass, directly injure the roots and foliage of the seed- 

 lings. Any weeds coming up should be forthwith removed by the 

 roots so as to prevent them from growing up again, and nowhere 

 near the beds should weeds be kept long enough to run to 

 seed. All woody growth, which in newly broken up forest land, 

 be it never so carefully prepared, will not unfrequently come up 

 at numerous points, should be grubbed out at once, along with the 

 deep-seated stool, root or rhizome producing it. Stray weeds 

 springing up here and there must of course be plucked up indivi- 

 dually ; otherwise it is always advisable to combine the weeding 

 with the operation next to be described. 



The soil in the seed-beds will always gradually settle and become 

 caked, and will, therefore, require to be worked up from time to 

 time so as always to keep it loose enough. This periodical loosening 

 of the soil may be effected with various implements. If the sowing 

 has been done broadcast and the seedlings stand close together, 

 the common garden trowel (Fig. 38), or the Indian khurpa (Fig. 

 39) are the only implements that can be used. Otherwise pick- 

 forks (Fig. 40), drags (pickforks minus the mattock end, but 

 much lighter ; see also Fig. 41), iron rakes (Figures 42-44), 

 garden forks (Fig. 45-47), or the share-hoe (Fig. 28) should be 

 employed according to circumstances. 



If the seedlings are kept for any length of time in the beds, the 

 soil may become exhausted and require to be manured again. 

 Advantage should be taken of the operation just described to put 

 in the fresh manure. 



