F O R E S T - T R E }l S. 



143 



drawing on the earth with the rake, and is in feveral other re- 

 fpedts of advantage. 



As thefe plants bring up the Imflc of the feed on their tops, 

 the fmall birds, who arc very fond of them, will deftroy all 

 or the greateft part, if they are not guarded againft. Every gar- 

 dener has liis own way of doing this ; but the belt method I know, 

 is to procure a parcel of old liiliing nets, and fpread them over 

 the beds, fupported by cuttings of copfe-wood, or other prunings 

 of trees, laid acrofs flakes ; and thofe nets are to be purchafed 

 at any fea-port town, for a mere trifle. 



In the autumn after fowing, go over your beds, and, with 

 your fingers, carefully pick off all moffy hard-crufted particles, 

 replacing them with an equal quantity of the richeft beft pre- 

 pared foil ; over which fift fome chaff, or rather faw-duft that 

 has lain fome time and loft its firey quality. This will keep the 

 plants warm, and prevent the ground from fwelling with the 

 froft, which, if it does, is apt to fpew them up : It will like- 

 ways be neceffary, in hard froft or violent rains, to throw a mat 

 over the two laft kinds, but regularly uncover them in mild 

 weather. ^ ' 



In the fucceeding fpring, and dm^ing the months of May and 

 June, the plants v/ill ftill be much invigorated by frequent wa- 

 terings, and in autumn let the beds be treated as in the former ; 

 for though the feediings are from this time till fpring in a ftate 

 of reft, and can, from no culture, be afTifted in their growth till 

 then, yet the mufty parts contracted on the furface, will, by the 

 winter rains, be walhed into the earth, which it will contami- 

 nate, and communicate difeafes to the plants, from Vxdiich they 

 will flowly recover. This circumftance, though in general little 



