220 TEMPOEA.EY NrHSEiIIE8. 



seldom available, and so the best plan is to let the richer upper 

 layers go down and to bring up to the surface the inferior soil, 

 which can be top-dressed with any little manure that may be at 

 hand, or, that failing, with good surface soil brought from the 

 surrounding area. As a further means to- the same end, the soil 

 should be broken up in the cold weather so as to expose the deeper 

 layers, even if it be only for a few months, to the fertihsing action 

 of atmospheric influences. If this inferior lower soil were left at 

 the bottom, the seedlings would remain underfed and would fail 

 to develop a full bush of rootlets and root-fibres. 



In other respects the directions given for the preparation of the 

 soil in permanent nurseries (p.p. 167-173^ should be generally 

 followed. But owing to the small area, and in some cases to the 

 roots of the standing trees, the hoe and pick must often be used 

 instead of the plough. 



ARTICLE 7. 

 Laying out of beds, paths, &c. 



If only germ plants are required, there is obviously no necessity 

 for dividing ofiP the nursery into beds, paths, &c. The entire area 

 may be sown broadcast or naturally by the trees overhead, as the 

 circumstances of the case .may dictate. Otherwise the disposition 

 of the interior of a temporary nursery will depend on its area. 

 The area may be so small that the entire nursery consists of only 

 a single bed. If otherwise, it should be divided off into beds and 

 paths of the usual width. It is seldom that transplanting is done 

 in temporary nurseries, but when it cannot be dispensed with, it 

 should be restricted to small plants that may be pricked out into 

 beds resembling seed-beds. Transplanting in the nursery itself can 

 become necessary only in the following cases : — (1) When large 

 seedlings are required in lofty mountain ranges with distinct zones 

 of forest growth ; (2) whenever, owing to the supply of seed fail- 

 ing or for any other reason, it is necessary to school natural seed- 

 lings obtained from the forest. Transplanting may also be resorted 

 to when water is available in sufficient quantity acd for a moderate 

 outlay. 



ARTICLE 8. 



Preparation and management of the seed-beds and 

 nursery lines. 

 The beds are prepared in the same way as in permanent nurse- 

 ries. As we usually employ hand-watering in temporary nurseries, 

 the beds would generally be on the same level as the surrounding 



