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hedge in the fall or winter as the removal of outside limbs 

 exposes the weaker inner branches which have not accustomed 

 themselves to open exposure and consequently are less hardy. 

 Such injury is sometimes seen when an evergreen group which 

 has become too close is thinned out. 



One of the chief beauties of evergreens is lost when the 

 trees are deprived of their lower branches. The limbs should 

 be left intact from the ground up so that the symmetry and 

 beauty of the trees are not marred or ruined. 



Propagation From Seed. 



Frequently inquiries are received at this department for 

 information as to the best methods of raising evergreens from 

 seed. I do not advise amateurs to attempt growing evergreens 

 from seed with the expectation of making a success of it. 

 Even few of the nurserymen attempt to do the work as it is 

 a business that has gone more and more into the hands of 

 specialists. It is comparatively easy to get the seed to ger- 

 minate under lath or brush screens which shade off about 

 half of the sunlight. But the seedlings are inclined to 

 "damp off'' before the se'cond or third set of leaves are formed. 

 By this is meant the moulding or decaying of the young 

 seedlings at the surface of the ground. The trouble is 

 especially prevalent soon after the young seedlings appear 

 above the ground and suffer from lack of moisture and in ex- 

 cessively rainy weather followed by bright sunlight. It is 

 prevented by sowing dry sand among the seedlings to absorb 

 the surplus moisture, sometimes by removing part of the 

 shade until the beds dry out, and in drouthy spells by judi- 

 cious watering. 



The seed is sown in beds four feet wide. The soil should 

 be well drained and quite sandy. If only black soil is avail- 

 able, considerable sand should be mixed in with the top 

 layers of soil. Early in May the seeds are sown broadcast 

 about four seeds to the square inch and covered lightly with 

 very sandy soil. The beds are made four feet wide and pro- 



