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about 3 ft. wide, sufficient space being left between each for the 

 passage of a man. The seed should be steeped in water for about 

 24 hours before sowing, to accelerate its tendency to germinate, and 

 afterwards well mixed with about one-third part of dry sand. This 

 mixture is then to be sown broadcast over the beds, the earth care- 

 fully raked over it, and gently patted down with the back of a 

 spade. If the soil is rather hard, a little cut straw sprinkled over it 

 will tend to remedy this defect. If the season is wet with cold 

 nights, it will be found beneficial to prepare a blanket or canvas to be 

 thrown over the ground already sown, supported by pegs, to protect 

 the seeds and young plants from the inclemency of the weather. In 

 the absence of rain, they must be watered with a hand watering-can ; 

 and in the event of too much rain, protected with straw or in the 

 manner above stated. As a matter of course, no weeds must be 

 allowed to remain in the beds. Thirdly — The mode of transplanting. 

 The young plants after attaining an age of from 18 to 24 months, 

 may be transplanted to a proper nursery, or in ground prepared for 

 the formation of hedges, according to the following directions. For 

 the nursery it will be necessary to cut longitudinal trenches 15 in. 

 deep by 15 in. wide. The bottom of the trenches should be covered 

 with dead branches to the depth of 2 in. or 3 in., and afterwards 

 filled in with earth nearly to the level of the former surface, for the 

 reception of the roots of the young plants. These plants have 

 generally a fusiform root from which a piece of about 2 in. must be 

 cut off. The plants so prepared should be laid on the surface of the 

 ground in the trench in such a fashion that their upper portions 

 should be supported by the unbroken ground, and the lower portion 

 covered in with some of the earth taken from the trench, which 

 must be slightly compressed with the hand ; on this should be 

 placed a layer of stable manure, and finally the remaining portion of 

 the earth taken out of the trench. After the young plants have been 

 set according to these directions, the tops of them should be cut to 

 within six inches of the ground, for the purpose of increasing the 

 strength of the young plant. All the suckers springing up from the 

 plant must be removed except the two strongest, which should be 

 left for the purpose of giving support to the foot of the tree, and 

 when they have gained sufficient strength they should be banked up 

 with earth all round. The distance at which the plants are to be 

 set should be in accordance with the fertility of the soil, but they 

 may be set at a general average of 3 ft. from the lines and 15 in. from 

 each other. No care, trouble, or expense must be spared to keep 

 the ground well moved round the foot of the mulberry, in order to 

 maintain the humidity of the soil so necessary for the production of the 

 vegetation of the tree. Most cultivators are aware that loose earth will 

 retain its natural moisture for a longer period than that which is com- 

 pressed ; it would therefore, be advantageous to the growth of the tree 

 to move the surface of the earth with a rake, in order that the rays of 

 the sun might penetrate to its roots. Heat and humidity are the most 



