Feb.] the NURSERY. 151 
trees and shrubs, first giving them such necessary pruning as may 
be wanted; but if the ground is then bound up with frost, you may 
perform the latter and defer the former work, till the frost is away, 
which then must be done without delay, especially where the ground 
is tolerably dry. 
Trim up the stems of such young hardy fruit and forest trees as 
require it, especially the deciduous kinds, and also prune oft" all 
disorderly rambling shoots, so as to bring them into a neat and 
handsome form. 
Prune also the hardy flowering shrubs in nursery rows, whereby 
to regulate any disorderly growths, and to give them a becoming 
appearance. 
In doing this work, it would generally be proper to prune or train 
the young plants mostly to short single stems below; and where 
the heads of any shrubs are very irregular, or run out in rambling 
shoots, let them be reduced to some order and form, by cutting 
out or shortening such as may require any regulation, whereby 
to form a somewhat orderly shape in the general head. Likewise 
suckers arising from the roots should generally be cleared off", and 
if carefully detached with some roots to each, the best of them, if 
wanted, may be planted in nursery rows at proper distances; they 
will make good plants in two or three years time, and the mother 
plants being cleared therefrom, will be preserved in a more regular 
proper growth. 
After the above occasional pruning, let the ground be dug between 
the rows of the continuing shrubs, if not done before; digging it 
one spade deep in a neat regular manner, to remain in good culti- 
vated order all the spring and ensuing summer. 
Sowing Stones to raise Stock for Grafting, ^c. 
As early as possible this month sow the stones of plums, peaches, 
nectarines, apricots and cherries, &c., which were preserved in sand 
or earth from the time of the fruit being ripe till this period; for 
unless they were preserved in this way, few of them will grow; 
these may either be sown in drills, or broad cast in a bed, and 
covered from an inch to two inches deep, according to the lightness 
of the soil and the proportionate size of the stones. I am by no 
means an advocate for covering seeds of any kind too deep, never 
having had good success from such. If the above sorts are covered 
but lightly, they will easily grow through it, and when up you 
can refresh them by sifting fresh earth over them, if in beds, and if 
in drills, by drawing it to their stems. 
Sowing Haws for the raising of Thorn-quicks. 
Having collected a sufficiency of fruit of the various kinds of 
hawthorn which you desire to propagate, the autumn twelve nioutlis 
previous to the time of sowing, which is, as earh/ in spring as it is 
possible to get the ground in a good state of culture to receive them, 
proceed to sowing as hereafter directed. 
