276 THE NURSERY. [March. 
spring, so that it will be necessary to keep the ground very free 
from weeds all the time. 
Magnolias. 
The seeds of the different kinds of magnolia should be sown 
immediately after being ripe, or be preserved in damp sand or earth 
till March; for if kept dry till that time, very few, if any, will vege- 
tate till the year following; and indeed may not until the second 
season, even if sown when ripe. They may also be propagated by 
layers and suckers, and by grafting and budding upon one another. 
Rhododendons, Kalmias, Azalias and Andromedas. 
Each and every species and variety of the above beautiful fami- 
lies of plants maybe propagated either by seeds, layers or suckers. 
The finest plants are always raised from seed, and although the 
process may be thought tedious, it is worth attending to; the more 
especially as they do not always succeed well when taken from the 
woods, and that thousands may be raised in this way, which may be 
successfully removed to any place where wanted. 
The capsules should be collected when the seeds are perfectly 
ripe, and if you intend to sow them immediately, which is certainly 
the better way, expose the capsules a few days to dry, but not to a 
powerful sun; they will then open, and the seeds will easily shake 
out; but if you do not intend sowing them till February or March, 
preserve them in the capsules till that time. To have a double 
chance sow some on shady borders of light, dry, loamy earth, and 
also in boxes, making the ground very fine and even on the surface, 
then sow the seeds thickly thereon, and cover them not more than 
the eighth of an inch deep, or rather so as barely to hide them. 
Immediately cover the beds or boxes with moss, in order to shade 
the surface and vegetating seed from the influence of the sun, or 
parching air; for when the small descending radicles are protruded, 
if the earth gets dry below them, all will be destroyed; and the 
seeds being so very minute, if covered deep, can never come up; 
therefore it will be necessary to give them shade and very fre- 
quently light sprinkles of water; the moss will prevent its washing 
the earth off the seeds, and will gently communicate the moisture 
to the surface thereof. When the plants begin to appear, thin the 
moss, and expose them but by slow degrees as they collect strength. 
If the boxes be placed in a green-house, or under the protection of 
garden frames and glasses, from the time of sowing the seeds till 
the middle of May, it will be a great advantage; obsisrving that 
the plants when up, must be carefully protected from the mid-day 
sun whilst in an infant state. Towards the middle of May remove 
the boxes to some comforting shade to remain there tiU the latter 
end of October, then place them in a warm exposure till the approach 
of severe frosts, when they may be put into a garden frame, and 
slightly protected during winter. Sufier the plants to remain in 
the seed boxes or beds till they have two years growth, being care- 
