THE NURSERY. 



59 



ill land differing in quality from that which they 

 naturally prefer, than others. Elm, for instance, 

 prefers a strong clay soil ; and it is perhaps impos- 

 sible to bring this tree to the utmost size which it is 

 capable of attaining, in land of a different quality ; 

 yet seedling elms may be raised without difficulty in 

 ground of the lightest nature ; and if transplanted 

 in the same, though their growth may be somewhat 

 slower than it would be in other circumstances, the 

 additional time which they will require to arrive 

 at the stature which it may be necessary they 

 should acquire, before being removed to their final 

 destination, will not be very considerable. The 

 same is true of a number of other species. But 

 seedling firs cannot be raised with eminent success, 

 excepting in land of a pretty light quality. If the 

 surface is apt to bind, many of the plants will never 

 be able to pierce it ; and thousands of those that do, 

 will go off almost as soon as they make their appear- 

 ance. It may be laid down as a general rule, that 

 plants which naturally prefer a tenacious soil may 

 be cultivated with more success in a light one, than 

 those which prefer the latter can be in the former. 

 Hence, in selecting a spot for a nursery, if we can- 

 not find one containing all the varieties of land best 

 adapted for each kind of plants we intend to raise, — 

 and this can seldom be found, — our choice ought to 



