0 



The Birch. 



I prepared some ground^ on which I put cucumber-frames; 

 and, in these frames, the bed of earth having" been sifted 

 very finely, I sowed my seed in the following manner : — I 

 first put it into warm watery and let it soak for forty-eight 

 hours: I then mixed it well and truly with earth very 

 finely sifted, making the whole rather wet. I laid the mix- 

 ture in a heap, which I turned every day for about four or 

 five days, until I saw here and there a seed beginning to 

 throw out its root. I then took the mixture, and scattered 

 it (seed and earth together) on the beds that I had prepared, 

 gently watering the bed, and shading it with a mat, giving 

 air in the day-time, and, when no rain or wind threatened, 

 taking off all covering during the night. 



159. In about a week, I saw the seeds, which lay on the 

 top of the ground, beginning to send out their roots, and 

 to send them down into the ground. As the root descended, 

 the seed rose up from the ground; and at the end of about 

 four days, it was most curious, and, to me, most delightful, 

 to behold, the whole bed covered with the little brown 

 seeds standing up, sustained by the root. In about four 

 days more, the leaves " shuffled oft' the mortal coil,'* and 

 the bed was all one beautiful green. 



160. It was pretty nearly July before I resorted to this 

 method, so that the plants were still very small, when over- 

 taken by Autumn, and, of course, too small for sale this 

 year ; but, by one transplanting, they will be made very 

 fine plants. After the plants become green, you must still 

 continue to shade under a hot sun, until they be fairly out 

 in rough leaf ; but when they arrive at that point, they 

 are safe. 



161. Here is a great deal of nicety and attention required; 



