F O R E S T - T R E E S. 135 



As the plants begin to appear above ground, if water is to be 

 had at no great diftance, and the weather is dry, without frofl, 

 it will much promote their growth, to water them in the morn- 

 nings early once every four or five days for five or fix weeks, 

 when they will have got roots enough to continue growing vi- 

 goroufly the remaining part of the fummer, and require no fur- 

 ther labour than keeping them clear of weeds. 



From the beginning to the middle of April following, tranf- 

 plant them from the feed-bed (cutting away a little of their 

 downright roots) to other fliady well-prepared borders, in rows 

 fifteen inches afunder and fix or feven inches in the row, and 

 give them three or four plentiful waterings at and. foon after 

 planting, if the weather require it. The fucceeding Odober and 

 March, point over the ground between the rows, which will en- 

 courage the fpreading of their fibres, and let them remain here 

 two years from their removal ; at which time, from this culture, 

 thefe plants will have fuch abundance of roots, with bodies fo 

 thick and well-proportioned, that they will encounter all dif5- 

 culties, and fucceed in the worfl foils and coldeft fituations, 

 much better than feedlings. 



For the purpofe of flieltering fuddenly plantations of finer 

 trees, in the garden or wildernefs, with large firs, thefe plants 

 may again be removed to another nurfery, and planted in rows 

 three feet afunder and eighteen inches in the row, where, after 

 {landing two years longer, and digging the ground as formerly, 

 they will tranfplant with abfolute fafety, and grow as freely as 

 the younger plants, notwithftanding the general prejudice againil: 

 <old Scots Firs, which has only a good foundation when they 



