NURSERY AND PLANTING. 



]53 



a dry loft till spring, when the seeds may be taken out and 

 sown in April, in beds of mellow ground, where they should 

 remain not more than two years, and should not be transphmted 

 sooner. A half humid soil is tlie most favorable for them while 

 in the nursery ; and a period of two years nursing in lines fits 

 them for final planting out, where they are to remain. The 

 elegance of this tree renders it admissible into all ornamental 

 plantations. As a single tree, in a sheltered rather damp 

 situation, it becomes a large and handsome tree ; but it is only 

 in the grove, when planted closely together, that it is to be 

 looked for as a tree of value. Indeed, such is the case with all 

 the fir tribe, to have fine clean timber-trees, they must be 

 closely planted, so as to shelter, draw up, and prune each 

 other. 



It is successfully transplanted when of a considerable size, 

 but always succeeds best when planted out for good when 

 about four years old from seed. 



The remainder of this family that are likely to be profitably 

 planted, are the pinaster or cluster pine, (P. pinaster,) and the 

 stone pine (P. pine a) ; but as neither is equal to those 

 already noticed, we may merely observe that as both ripen their., 

 seeds with us about December, their gathering, sowing, and 

 nursery culture are the same as that already laid down for the 

 other species of the Finns genus. The former was introduced 

 in 1596, and the latter in 1570. Its seeds are esteemed a de- 

 licacy by the Chinese, as well as the natives of the south of 

 Europe, and appear in their ripe state as an article in their 

 choicest desserts. 



Sycamore, or Plane. — {Acer-Pseudo-platanus,) 



Is an indigenous tree, and attains a magnitude equal to that 

 of any other of our native trees, and although more tame in its 

 outline and form than the oak, is nevertheless a handsome park 

 tree. It attains a large size in almost all soils which are not 

 over wet, and in almost all situations. In poor dry soils it 

 attains a valuable size ; but in a loamy soil becomes very large 

 within a century. Sang says it outhves the ash in elevated 

 situations, and becomes of a very large size in alluvial soils of a 



