52 THE NURSERY. (Jan 



plant for this purpose is the hawthorn: but a paling, or other similar 

 close fence, either in general or part, would be extremely useful, 

 against which to train young wall-trees to a proper growth for 

 garden or espalier plantations. 



The ground must then be all regularly trenched one or two 

 spades deep, according as the natural depth of the soil will admit, 

 for by no means dig deeper than the natural good soil, being either 

 one spade, one and a half, or two spades deep. 



Then, having trenched the ground, proceed to divide it by walks 

 into quarters and other compartments: a principal walk should 

 lead directly through the middle or some principal part of the 

 ground, which may be from five to eight or ten feet wide, according 

 as it shall seem proper for use or ornament, having a broad border 

 on each side: another walk should be carried all round next the 

 outward boundary, four or five feet wide, leaving an eight or ten 

 feet border next the fence all the way; then may divide the inter- 

 nal part by smaller cross walks, so as to form the whole into 

 four, six or eight principal divisions, which are commonly called 

 quarters. 



One or more of the divisions must be allotted for a seminary, 

 i.e., for the reception of all sorts of seeds for raising seedling plants 

 to furnish the other parts; therefore divide this seminary -ground 

 into four feet wide beds, with foot-wide alleys at least between bed 

 and bed: in these beds should be sown seeds, &c.of all such trees, 

 shrubs and herbaceous plants as are raised from seed; and which 

 seeds consist both of the various sorts of kernels and stones of fruit, 

 to raise stocks for grafting and budding; seeds of forest and 

 ornamental trees, shrubs, &c., and seeds of numerous herbaceous 

 perennials, both of the fibrous-rooted and bulbous-rooted tribes: the 

 sowing season is both spring and autumn, according to the nature of 

 the different sorts, which is fully illustrated in their proper places; 

 and when the young tree and shrub seedling-plants so raised are 

 one or two years old, they are to be planted out in nursery-rows into 

 the other principal divisions; but many kinds of herbaceous plants 

 require to be pricked out from the seed-beds, when but from two 

 to three or four months old, as directed for each under their own 

 respective heads. On the other hand, most kinds of bulbous seed- 

 lings will not be fit for planting out in less than one or two years. 



Another part of the nursery -ground should be allotted for stools 

 of various trees and shrubs for the propagation by layers, by which 

 vast numbers of plants of difierent kinds are propagated. These 

 stools are strong plants of trees and shrubs, planted in rows three 

 or four feet distance every way, and such of them as naturally rise 

 with tall stems, are, alter being planted one year, to be headed 

 down near the ground, to force out many lower shoots conveniently 

 situated for laying. 



And as to cuttings, suckers, slips, off-sets, &c, those of hardy 

 trees, shrubs and plants may be planted in any convenient com- 

 partment, and in shadv borders, fitc, and for the more tender kinds 

 should allot some warm sheltered situation. 



