OF FOREST-TREES. 47 



3. Your plants beginning now to peep, should be earthed up, and cHAP. II. 

 comforted a little, especially after breaking of the greater frosts, and ^«^*v^^ 

 when the swelling mould is apt to spue them forth ; but when they are 

 about an inch above ground, you may, in a moist season, draw them up 



is the best time for this work : and when the young plants appear, which will be in about 

 six weeks, they must be constantly covered with mats in the night-time to guard against 

 the effects of frost. During the summer they should be kept clear from weeds, and 

 covered from the extreme heat of the sun while the hot months continue. Whenever any 

 cloudy or rainy weather approaches, the mats should be always taken off, that the plants may 

 enjoy the benefit of it. By thus carefully nursing the beds, keeping them clear from weeds, 

 watering the plants in dry seasons, covering them from the parching sun, and uncovering 

 them again in the night, or when the weather is cloudy or rainy, the plants by autumn 

 will be got pretty strong ; though not so strong as to be left to themselves. The following 

 winter they will require some care. When the frosts approach, they must be carefully 

 covered with the mats, as in the spring ; for without this protection many of them would 

 be injured, and the greatest pai-t killed, at least down to the ground. In this bed they 

 may stand two years, when they will be strong enough to plant out in the nursery. The 

 ground for this purpose being double dug, the young plants should be set in rows, at two 

 feet and a half distance, and one foot and a half asunder in the rows. There they may 

 remain till they are of a sufficient size to plant out for good, 



HORNBEAM. 



In the autumn the seeds are ripe ; when, having gathered a sufficient quantity for the 

 purpose, let them be spread upon a mat a few days to dry. After this, they should be 

 sown in the seminary, in beds four feet wide, with an alley of about two feet, in the 

 manner directed for raising the Ash. In this bed they will remain till the second spring, 

 when they will make their appearance. During the summer of their concealment, the 

 weeds should constantly be plucked up as soon as they peep ; for if neglected, the fibres 

 of their roots will strike so deep as to occasion many of the seeds to be drawn out on 

 weeding the ground. After the young plants appear, they should constantly be kept clear 

 of weeds ; and if they were now and then gently refreshed with water, in dry weather, it 

 would prove highly serviceable to them. In the spring following they may be taken out 

 of these beds, and planted in the nursery. 



MOUNTAIN ASH, OR QU I C K E N - T RE E. 



Having procured a sufficient quantity of berries, they should be sown, soon after they 

 are ripe, in the seminary, about half an inch deep, in beds made as before directed : they 

 frequently lie till the second spring, before they make their appearance. In the spring 

 following, let them be taken from the seed-bed, and pknted in the nursery. 



