274 ^^^ NURSERY. ■ [March. 
grow. The stones are shorter than those of the Italian pine, and 
full as thick. The wood is short, having scarcely any grain, and 
very fit for the carver. The peasants of the Tyrol, where this tree 
abounds, make various sorts of carved works with the wood, which 
they dispose of in Switzerland among the common people, who are 
fond of the resinous smell which it exhales. Both the varieties 
may be cultivated in the same manner as directed for the Italian 
stone pine. 
All the other species and varieties of pines and firs may be suc- 
cessfully raised in the following manner. 
Being provided with good fresh seeds, for on this every thing 
depends, prepare for their reception, as early in the spring &s your 
ground will work free and light, and pulverize finely in the working, 
beds three or four feet wide, of rich loamy ground, by no means 
subject to burn or become parched with the summer heatsi then 
sow the seeds on the surface so thick, as that you may expect after 
all reasonable allowances for defective seeds, &c. at least, a plant on 
every inch square of the ground, or at the rate of a pound of good 
seed to a bed three feet and a half wide and sixty long. The sowing 
of them so thick is indispensable, for unless they completely cover 
the surface, they will, if not carefully shaded, be destroyed in their 
infant state by the summer heatj early sowing is also necessary, 
for they have nothing to apprehend from subsequent frosts, that 
their roots may be established before the heat overtakes them. 
After the seeds are sown, sift over the smaller sized kinds about a 
quarter of an inch of fine, rich, light mould, and over the larger, 
nearly half an inch, then place over the beds nets made for that 
purpose, or any old small meshed fishing-nets, to keep off the birds, 
for all the kinds, when lightly covered, which is indispensable to 
their growth, generally carry up the seeds on their tops, and if 
attacked by birds, which are extremely fond of them, the far greater 
number will be destroyed. 
The beds must be kept completely free from weeds of any 
kind, from the moment the seeds are sown during the continuance 
of the plants therein; and if you perceive their leaves turn foxy in 
summer, by heat or drought, it will be necessary to give them occa- 
sional shade and water. In the month of June following, sift some 
fine, light, rich earth over the beds, so as to just come up to the 
foliage without covering it, which will protect their yet tender 
stems, prevent their being scalded by extraordinary heat, which 
often melts them away, so as to fall flat, whilst the foliage appears 
fresh; and besides, it will help to retain the moisture about their 
roots and fibres. 
The spring following, early in April, or as soon as you perceive 
an inclination in the buds to push, pull up the largest grown plants, 
of such kinds as have arrived at the height of three inches or up- 
wards, but not otherwise, and plant them in drills made with a hoe 
or spade for their reception, eighteen inches or two feet asunder, 
and eight inches plant from plant in the rows, just so deep as that 
the earth may come up to their foliage; close it well about the roots, 
and water them occasional Iv till sufficientlv taken with the eartli 
