Feb.] THE NURSERY, 153 
effected, the kernels cannot vegetate. Hence the necessity and great 
advantage of not burying the stones in the earth, as injudiciously 
practised by many; for if so treated, they would not have the advan- 
tage destined by nature for their due preparation, and would labour 
under many 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; how 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 frequently turned as before directed, all become equally and 
sufficiently prepared, and will not fail, when sowed in due season 
and suitable soil, to reward the judicious cultivator with an abun- 
dant 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 
injuring the seeds, whilst so much exposed to it in those ridges; 
however, 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 arrives. 
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 if 
not sown at this time, or before, a great number of those roots will 
be broken off in the act of sowing, and thereby totally lost; the 
others which escape this accident, having their radicles extended 
on the surface, penetrate the earth at the extreme points of those 
roots, forming right angles with the parts already produced, by 
which means they can never drive up the seed-leaves, with as much 
vigour as if the radicles descended immediately in a perpendicular 
direction from the stones of the fruit; hence the necessity of early 
sowing. 
The ground, however, must not be wrought while wet, or at least 
the seeds should not be covered with wet or heavy earth, nor too 
deep; for if the surface should cake, or become stiff in consequence 
of dry weather ensuing, few of these young plants, having broad 
seed-leaves, could bear up through it; therefore, you must be very 
U 
