FOREST-TREES. 119 



are ftill better, and feeds from the places of their native growth 

 are preferable to thofe faved in Britain, being larger and better 

 ripened. 



As foon as thofe feeds are either received from abroad, or ga- 

 thered at home, after having been made quite dry, let them be 

 mixed with loofe fand, and preferved from froft and wet till the 

 middle or latter end of March, as the weather is more or lefs fa- 

 vourable. About this time fow them on a bed of rich mellow dry 

 foil, and cover them half an inch deep. In four or five weeks, 

 the plants will begin to appear, when the bed ought to be hoop- 

 ed over, and, when necelTary, covered with mats, firft to prote6l 

 them from the cold frofty winds frequent at that feafon, and 

 excellive rains which fometimes buril them, and afterwards to 

 fcreen them from the fcorching heat of the fun, which will 

 much accelerate their growth. From their appearance above 

 ground, they mufl be gently tho' frequently watered in the 

 mornings while the weather continues cold, but afterwards in 

 the evenings when mild. In this fituation they will require no 

 more trouble, than, in cafe of a fevere winter, throwing the mats 

 over them in Itorms, and removing them regularly as the air 

 becomes temperate. 



The fucceeding fpring, as foon as the buds begin to fwell, re- 

 move the plants from the feminary to a nurfery of the fame kind 

 of well-prepared loofe foil ; fhorten tiie top-roots, and plant 

 them in rows two feet and a half diftant, and about a foot a- 

 funder in the row ; give them a gentle watering, which ought 

 to be frequently repeated in the evenings of dry weather during 

 the fummer months, and keep the foil about them clean and 



