52 FRUIT GARDEN COMPANION, 



CHAPTER III. 



ON THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG PLANTS. 



Art. 1.— Seedlings. 



There is some care and attention required to 

 grow seedlings in a strong and healthy state the first 

 year, which is of great importance to their after 

 growth ; for when seedlings are not well grown the 

 first year, they are often stunted into a meagre 

 growth that prevents them from making any progress 

 the following year. 



When the young plants begin to break the ground 

 and make their appearance, any heavy lumps of dirt, 

 stones or other substances that impede their growth 

 may be taken away. If the weather is very dry at 

 this time, the plants may have a good soaking of 

 water given to them two or three times of an even- 

 ing. When the plants have two or three leaves, 

 the beds may be thinned by pulling out those in 

 clusters, and leaving them as regular as possible, 

 an inch or two apart — being careful always to leave 

 the centre part of the bed the thinnest, as it must be 

 recollected that the plants in the middle do not have 

 the chance to obtain so much air as the outside. 

 As the young plants advance in growth, the beds 

 should be regularly looked over, and divested of any 

 weeds, filth, or anything that may retard their growth, 

 and every thing should be done to encourage a 

 healthy growth during the summer. 



In the fall, if the plants are to remain in the seed 

 bed for another year's growth, before they are planted 



