76 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



other countries. Mr. Boutcher observes, that 

 as the seeds ripen at different times, they must 

 not be gathered all at once. 



Those fruits which are ripe may easily be 

 known, by their turning of a deep brownish 

 tawny colour, which is generally in the month 

 of December ; they retain their growing qua- 

 lity a very short time, and therefore the ber- 

 ries should be mixed with dry sand to pre- 

 serve them until the time of sowing, which is 

 about the middle of March, when the seed 

 should be rubbed out and sowed with the sand 

 in pots of rich loose mould, which should be 

 plunged into an old bed of tanner's bark, that 

 has lost its heat, and covered with glasses to 

 keep out the frost. Mr. Boutcher says, if the 

 quantity you intend to raise be large, prepare 

 a moderate hot-bed of tanner's bark ; lay on 

 six inches deep of the finest rich loose mould, 

 sow the seeds, and cover them not more than 

 one-sixth of an inch deep. In five or six 

 weeks the plants will appear. The second 

 spring he recommends them to be removed 

 into penny pots, which should be plunged 

 into the hot-bed till August, hardening them 

 gradually, by exposing them to the open air 

 in moist calm weather. 



They may then be placed in a warm spot 

 under a hedge, till October ; after that time 



