152 THE NURSERY. [Feb. 
When you collect these seeds in autumn, mix them with equal 
quantities of light sandy earth, and lay them in that state on the 
surface of a dry spot of ground in your best enclosed garden, where 
they cannot be disturbed by hogs, &c.| form this mixture into a nar- 
row sloping ridge, tapering to the top, and covering it with light 
loose earth two inches thick all over; the April following turn this 
ridge, mixing the whole together, and form it again in the same way, 
covering in like manner as before with two inches deep of light 
loose earthj repeat this again in the months of July and August, by 
which the seeds in every part will be equally prepared for vegeta- 
tion. A trench must be cut round this ridge to prevent any water 
from lodging about the seeds, for this would rot many and injure 
others, especially in the second winter, when the stones would be 
loosing their cementing quality, and begin to open; for until this is 
effected, the kernels cannot vegetate. Hence the necessity and 
great advantage of not burying the stones in the earth, as injudi- 
ciously practised by many; for if so treated, they would not have 
the advantage destined by nature for their due preparation, and 
would labour under may other disadvantages, as hereafter noticed. 
It is well known, that many kinds of seeds when buried in the 
earth below the power of vegetation, remain in an inactive state for 
several years, even those whose nature it is to vegetate the first 
season when properly exposed; bow much more so must it be with 
seeds of such tardy vegetation as haws, and many other sorts; but 
by being thus exposed to the influence of the sun and air, and fre- 
quently turned as before directed, all become equally and suffi- 
ciently prepared, and will not fail when sowed in due season and 
suitable soil to reward the judicious cultivator with an abundant 
crop. 
When those seeds are buried deep, and not mixed with a due 
quantity of earth as before observed, they are subject to ferment 
too powerfully, and also to be injured by too much wet, and will 
never be found, more especially when large quantities of them are 
together, to vegetate equally — those near the surface and sides of 
the pit doing tolerably well — some of the others not growing until 
a full year after being; sowed, and the greater number not at all. 
There is not the least danger to be apprehended from frost in- 
juring the seeds whilst so much exposed to it in those ridges; how- 
ever, it will not be amiss to strew a light covering of long litter 
over them on the approach of winter, which will keep them dry, 
and consequently in a better state for sowing when the season ar- 
rives. 
The above mode of preparation is the result of the Author's ex- 
perience for upwards of twenty years, being in the habit of raising 
several millions of thorn quicks annually. 
Your haws being prepared as above, make ready a piece of good 
rich ground, neither upon an elevated situation, nor too low; in the 
former, the summer drought would be unfriendly, and in the latter, 
they would be subject to mildew: this must be done as early in 
spring as you can get the ground to work freely and pulverize well; 
for the haws begin to throw out roots at a very early period, and 
