|52 THE NURSERY. [Feb. 
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 Stocks for Grafting, Sfc. 
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 cither be sown in drills, or broad cast in a bed, and 
covered from an inch, to two inches deep, according to the light- 
ness 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 twelvemonths 
previous to the time of sowing, which is, as early 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. 
When you collect these seeds in autumn, mix them with equal 
quantities of light sandy earth, and lay them in that state on the sur- 
face of a dry spot of ground in your best enclosed garden, where they 
cannot be disturbed by hogs, &c. form this mixture into a narrow 
sloping ridge, tapering to the top, and cover it with light loose earth 
two inches thick all over; the April following turn this ridge, mix- 
ing the whole together, and form it again in the same way, covering 
in like manner as before, with two inches deep of light loose earth: 
repeat this again in the months of July and August, by which the 
seeds in every part will be equally prepared for vegetation. 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 loos- 
ing their cementing quality, and begin to open; for until this is 
