Feb.] THE NURSERY. 151 
Propagating by Layers. 
The latter end of this month, you may make layers of all such 
shrubs and trees as are increased by that method: though the best 
time to do this, is between the first of October and end of November, 
but where it was omitted at that period it may now be done, and 
most kinds will still succeed. 
In making layers of any kinds of trees or shrubs, observe to dig 
round the plant that is to be layed, and, as you go on, bring down 
the shoots or branches regularly, and lay them along in the earth, 
with their tops above ground, fastening them securely there with 
hooked pegs, and then let all the young shoots on each branch be 
neatly layed, and cover them five or six inches deep with earth, 
leaving the top of each, three or four, to five or six inches out of the 
ground. 
It may be of advantage, in laying some of the more hard-wooded 
kinds, to gash or slit the layers an inch or better by an upward cut 
on the under side, as intimated in the Nursery, page 61. 
Most kinds of layers, which are now layed, will be tolerably well 
rooted, and fit to be transplanted by next autumn, some not till 
the second year: but for general instructions, see the Nursery in 
October. 
Transplanting Layers. 
Take off the layers of such hardy shrubs and trees as were layed 
down last year, and which still remain on the stolls. 
Let these layers, as soon as they are taken off, be trimmed and 
planted in rows in an open situation, two feet or more asunder, ac- 
cording to the size of the plants; and the plants about twelve or fifteen 
inches distant in the rows. 
Pruning, Sfc. 
Should the weather permit, you ought, towards the latter end of 
the month, to dig the ground between the rows of your nursery 
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 off all disor- 
derly 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 
