CHAPTER XXVI. 



The Different Methods of Bearing Young Trees in the 

 J\fursery. 



Although, I daresay, the greater proportion of my readers will prefer 

 to purchase tlieii- fplants from the public nurserymen rather than go to 

 the trouble of rearing these themselves, still there will be a few who 

 will reverse this concStion of things; and for such I will now endeavor to 

 give a brief description as to how a small nursery should be established, 

 and trees reared in it under the different systems of culture now in vogue 

 in the colony. 



The advantages arising from having small home nurseries cannot be 

 too highly estimated. When extensive planting is carried out, I do not 

 know of any country in which these would be of more advantage 

 and produce better results than this. The climate of our country is so 

 dry that trees cannot be safely carried any great distance without bad 

 results arising to them ; besides, trees reared in the neighborhood of the site 

 which they are to occupy permanently, are much more valuable and more 

 likely to succeed upon it than if they were grown some hundreds of 

 miles away, in an entirely difPerent altitude, and with different sur- 

 roundings. As a rule, however, I advocate farmers getting their plants 

 from the pviblic nurseries. 



In almost every farmer's garden a suitable spot can be selected for a 

 small nursery, and with a very little expense such appliances can always 

 be erected upon it as will enable him to grow aU the yoxmg trees he may 

 require for planting upon his holding. Such a site as I refer to should, 

 as far as possible, be somewhat sheltered, and have a soil of a free loamy 

 nature. This should be well and regularly trenched to a depth of at least 

 24in., specially fenced off by wire netting and paling, (in order to pre- 

 vent the inroads of poultry), and afterwards laid out systematically with 

 footpaths, and divided into equal-sized blocks. It is also an advantage 

 to enclose the ground with a quick-growing hedge for shelter. 



On the north side of the ground thus laid off as a nurserj-, a Propa- 

 gating Shed should be erected ; this to be of such a size as the requirements 

 of the planter wiU necessitate. The structure may consist of split palings 

 saplings, or "bamboo" reeds. The side facing the north should be 



