Jan.] THE NURSERY. ; -y 



necessity requires it, this ground may be planted with young trees, 

 &c, in spring. 



In severe weather, when out- work cannot be done, make label- 

 sticks; and have them in readiness when wanted, to mark the 

 various kinds and varieties of fruit and forest trees, shrubs, plants, 

 &c. which you intend to plant or propagate in spring; the largest, 

 to mark rows of fruit trees, &c, should be about the size of a coach- 

 wheel spoke, and for sake of durability, made of white oak, or some 

 other good durable wood, with the numbers marked or painted 

 thereon; such will last you for several years: small kinds for 

 labelling flowers, or the various sorts of small seeds which you 

 intend to sow, may be made of old or new shingles, or pieces of 

 good pine, cut and split to such lengths as you desire; form these 

 neatly, and when you are going to use them, rub one side of the 

 upper end for about two inches with white oil-colour paint; on 

 which, while yet wet, write your number, or the name of the plant 

 at full length with a black-lead pencil; this will endure any kind 

 of weather for one year at least, and be legible for several years, 

 when placed in pots, with greenhouse or hothouse plants. 



Care of tender and young seedling Trees. 



Take great care now of all the tender kinds of seedling trees, 

 shrubs and other young plants of similar quality raised from seed, 

 or by other means, last year or before; many kinds will, in hard 

 frost, need shelter, particularly the young seedling plants of the 

 cedar of Lebanon, &c, China arbor vitae, the tender kinds of pines 

 and tirs, and the seedling plants of cypress, and such like kinds of 

 young seedling evergreens, which will all need occasional protec- 

 tion in severe weather: and therefore, at the approach of the first 

 hard frost, the pots or boxes, &c, containing them should be re- 

 moved into a garden frame, or some other convenience of occasional 

 shelter, and in the time of hard frosts the glasses and other cover- 

 ing put on; but they must be kept constantly open in mild weather, 

 when it can be done with safety to the plants. 



The tender seedling plants which are growing in beds, and 

 require shelter in time of frost, should be covered at such time 

 with mats; first erecting some hoops across the bed, and the mats 

 to be drawn over them occasionally for defence of the plants. 



Likewise some of the more hardy kinds of young plants may be 

 sheltered in bad weather by laying some straw, fern or long dry 

 litter lightly over them; this will protect the tender tops and roots 

 from the frost. 



But this covering must not be suffered to remain longer than 

 necessary to defend the plants. 



Likewise any curious or tender young evergreens, &c., that are 

 planted in pots, should be placed under shelter in severe frosts; such 

 as arbutus or strawberry tree, magnolia grand i flora, cistuses, China 

 arbor vitae, English and Portugal laurels, &c, placing them in a 

 frame, or where they may be defended either with glasses, mats 

 or other coverins; in rigorous weather. 



