PRACTICAL CULTURE OF PLANTS. 



675 



excellent manure, whereas rotten tanners' bark 

 is found rather injurious than useful to vegeta- 

 tion, unless well mixed with lime and earth. 



In preparing manures for hot beds, the object 

 is to modify the excessive heat generated in the 

 first process of fermentation. For this purpose, 

 a certain degree of moisture and air in the fer- 

 menting bodies are requisite; and hence, they 

 require to be turned over frequently, and a sup- 

 ply of water given when the process appears 

 retarded for want of it, or water and rain 

 excluded when the fermentation is too languid, 

 in consequence of a chill state of the mass. Re- 

 cent stable dung generally requires to lie a month 

 in ridges or beds, and to be turned over in that 

 time tlirice before it is fit for cucumber beds of 

 the common construction ; but for common beds, 

 ttoee weeks, a fortnight, or less, will suffice, or 

 no time at all need be given, but the dung formed 

 at once into linings. Tan and leaves require in 

 general a month, but much depends on the state 

 of the weather and the season of the year. Fer- 

 mentation is always most rapid in summed, and 

 if the materials are spread abroad during fi-ost, 

 it is totally impeded. In winter, the process of 

 preparation generally goes on under cover from 

 the weather in the back shades, which situation 

 is also the best in summer, as full exposure to 

 the sun and wind dries too much the exterior 

 surfacs ; but when sheds cannot be had, it will 

 go on very well in the open air. A great deal 

 of heat is undoubtedly lost in the process of fer- 

 mentation, and some cultivators have recently 

 devised plans to turn it to some account, by fer- 

 menting dung in vineries which are just begin- 

 ning to be forced, or in vaults under pine pits 

 or plant stores. 



Sowing seeds. After the soil is properly dry 

 and pulverized the seeds are deposited, and this 

 should always be done in dry weather, for a- dry 

 soil is especially requisite for covering in the seeds. 

 Small seeds are sown in greater or less quantity, 

 according to the kind. Some are planted singly, 

 as beans, potatoes ; and the depth at which they 

 are covered in, much depends upon the kinds of 

 plants. Some seeds require a mere sprinkling 

 of earth, others have to be covered up with one, 

 two, or three inches of mould, especially if 

 planted at times when frost occurs. In general, 

 however, as germination requires air and heat, 

 the seeds should not be more than covered with 

 the soil. 



Watering. This process is often necessary, 

 especially in horticulture, as a means of nourish- 

 ment to growing plants, especially as a support 

 to newly transplanted vegetables, and for clean- 

 ing the leaves and destroying insects. Water 

 should never be thrown over the leaves of 

 plants when the sun shines. Indeed, watering 



* Loudon's Ency. of Gardening. 



should always be practised either in the evening 

 or the morning, as during sunny days, the sud- 

 den evaporation of water causes a chill which 

 is fatal to vegetation. 



North and east winds, which are generally chill 

 and dry, are most inimical to vegetation, and 

 during such times, plants in the open air should 

 be watered with circumspection. The process 

 should be done in the evening, and shelter or 

 matting put over tender plants. While south 

 and westerly winds prevail, even although no 

 rain should fall, vegetables are not in such need 

 of water, as the air at those times is full of mois- 

 ture, and the soil readily absorbs this fluid from 

 the air. In transplanting vegetables, a liberal 

 supply of water is necessary, and they should be 

 shaded from the sun; a glass bell or a close 

 frame put over such plants, serves to prevent 

 too great an evaporation from their leaves, and 

 gives time for the roots to resume their action. 

 In large rooted and hardy plants, the superflu- 

 ous and bulky parts, and even portions of the 

 small rootlets, may be dressed away ; but in 

 transplanting smaller and more delicately rooted 

 plants, the minute fibres should be carefully 

 preserved, and placed in a natural position 

 among the soft mould. It is in the action of 

 these rootlets chiefly, that the vigorous growth 

 of the plant depends. In transplanting into 

 pots, the general practice is, to begin with the 

 smallest-sized pot, and gradually to transplant 

 into others larger, as the plant advances, and as 

 the object may be to produce a large or a small 

 plant. In the case of balsams and tender annuals 

 this may require to be done three or four times 

 a month, till the plant has attained its full size; 

 in the case of heaths, not more than once a year 

 or seldomer. 



Pruning is the amputation of branches of trees, 

 in order to repress too great growth, and to 

 direct the sap to other branches. Of two adjoin- 

 ing and equal sized branches of the same tree, if 

 the one be cut off^, that remaining will profit by 

 the sap which would have nourished the other, 

 and both the leaves and the fruits which it may 

 produce, will exceed their natural size. If part 

 of a branch be cut off which would have car- 

 ried a number of fruits, those which remain will 

 sit or fix better, and become larger. The objects 

 of pruning them may be the promotion of 

 growth and bulk, lessening bulk, modifying 

 form, promoting the foi-mation of blossom buds, 

 enlarging fruit, adjusting the stem and branches 

 to the roots, renewal of decayed plants or trees, 

 and removal or cure of diseases. 



Grafting. This is a process applicable to all 

 trees and shrubs, and even smaller plants, and 

 consists in inoculating or joining one branch of 

 a species to another, and thus producing a variety 

 different from either. A grafted tree consists of 

 two parts, the scion and the stock. The scion 



