502 
After the plants have grown two years in the seed-bed, they will be strong enough to remove; 
therefore, in the spring, just at the time when their buds begin to swell, they should be carefully 
taken up, and transplanted into nursery-beds, and in the same way as those which were raised on 
a hot-bed. 
There are some people who propagate this tree by layers, but the layers are commonly two or 
three years before they take root, and the plants so raised, seldom make such straight trees as those 
raised from seeds; though indeed they will produce flowers sooner, as is always the case with 
stunted plants. 
This tree should be planted on a light loamy soil, not too dry, on wdiich it will thrive much 
better than upon a strong clay, or a dry gravelly ground; for in America they are chiefly found upon 
a moist light soil, where they will grow to a prodigious size, though it will not be proper to plant 
trees in a soil which is too moist in England, because it might endanger the rotting of the fibres of 
the roots by the moisture continuing too long about them, especially if the bottom be clay, or a strong 
loam, which will detain the wet. 
To raise them in the open ground the beginning of March, prepare a bed of good mellow rich 
earth well mixed with old rotten cow-dung, exposed to the sun, and sheltered from cold winds; 
place an old frame over the bed, and having sown the seeds, sift over them, half an inch thick, a soil 
composed some months before of one load of old pasture earth, one of well rotted cow-dung, and half 
a load of sea or fine pit sand. Some of these seeds will probably make their appearance in nine or 
ten weeks, but much the greater part will lie in the ground till next spring. Water the beds there¬ 
fore no more than barely sufficient to cherish the plants that have appeared: for four or five weeks 
screen them from the sun during the heat of the day, but afterwards let them receive its full influence. 
In bad weather, during winter, throw double mats over the frames. 
In March the succeeding year, pick* off all mossy, hard crusted earth from the bed, smooth it, 
and sift on some fine, rich mould. The end of April, or beginning of May, plants will appear in 
abundance, when they must be frequently but gently watered. Till the beginning of August they 
must be screened from the mid-day sun, by part of an old reed-fence, or by nailing some thin boards 
together high enough to shade the bed. After this, no farther care is necessary, but frequent mode¬ 
rate waterings, and to throw a mat over the frame during any severe winter storm. 
The beginning of April, next season, take up the plants carefully with a trowel, without bruis¬ 
ing the roots, and if they cannot be planted immediately, mix a pailful of sifted mould and water, to 
the consistence of pap; draw the plants through it, till as much adhere as covers their roots and 
fibres; in this condition they may be kept several days out of the ground. Cut only a little of the 
tap-root smoothly off, but let all the fibres remain; and then plant them in drills cut out with the 
spade, at a foot distance row from row, and six inches in the row. Plant fire of these lines, and 
then leave an alley three ieet wide. Water them frequently and plentifully during the summer 
months; throw mats over them in case of very severe frost, the first winter, and let them remain 
two years. Then remove them to another nursery, in rows three feet and a half distant, and 
eighteen inches in the row, and let them continue three years. Being now six or seven feet high, 
they will be of a good size for planting where they are to remain. No tree bears pruning its roots 
or branches worse than this. 
It is a tree of extraordinary beauty and stateliness, and highly deserves a place in all noble and 
elegant plantations.* 
* Boutcher. 
