PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
179 
Michaelmas again ; as the frosty nights draw on, it will be necessary to have some 
clean mould shifted thro’ an open sive (or ridle) over the whole bed, so as to cover 
the stalks of the plants, leaving only the green heads, or turfs, above the mould ; 
this keeps them warm, and prevents their being thrown up, or spew’d out of the 
ground, which the worms and winter frosts are apt to do. 
DEFENCE AGAINST FROST, ETC. 
As the winter grows more severe they will require a further security from the 
injuries of the weather, which may be don by making a sort of shed or hovell over 
them, about a foot and a half or two feet high, open on all sides, and cover’d above 
with a thin coat of straw, or some such matter. Some make a low hedge, or sett 
up boughs of trees, at some distance round the bed, each being designed only to 
break off and abate the severities of a nipping, violent winter and March winds ; 
thus they may continue all winter. 
Towards spring again, as the hardships of the winter and piercing winds are 
over, the seed-bed must be layd open by the removal of what was brought in for 
its winter security, which must be water’d and wedd, as formerly directed, especially 
while the plants continue growing, which will be from the beginning of April to the 
later end of June, or midle of July ; if the ground cleave or open, the chinks must 
be constantly fill’d up with fresh earth. 
TRANSPLANTING TO THE NURSERY. 
The second winter they require no such shelter or tending at all, nor the next 
spring (being the third, that of the sowing included), unless weeding and watering, 
if needfull. Its now judgment must be made whether the plants be hearty and 
throng in the bed, if so, they must be remov’d to the nursery, otherwise they may 
remain where they are for another year. There are those who raise some of these 
now, where thickest, with a weeding knife, or the like, and place them in another 
bed or nursery, at six or eight inches distance; and when they have stood there 
two seasons more, remove them to that place where they design they shall allways 
stand ; and, indeed, it’s most advisable the whole bed should be used thus—I mean 
sett into nurserys this third spring (that of the sowing included), where, having 
stood two years more, they must again be transplanted for good and all, otherwise 
they will grow too strong and close there again ; but when they are intended for 
low ground, and where there will be good shelter, they may stand in the 
nursery untill they be six, seven, or eight years old; so that they may make a 
handsome shew and appear ornamentall upon the first setting out; but, then, take 
notice, that each plant must be placed in the nursery at about two feet distance or 
more, that the roots may have room and liberty given them to spread and enlarge 
themselves suitable to the growth the trees will make during their stay there. By 
this means there is room likewise given for the gardner to pass thro’ them, to hoe, 
water, and tend them as there’s occasion, as also to prune them. By which means 
they will thrive the better, be the hardier, and better prepar’d to endure their last 
removal. 
CHOICE OF GROUND FOR NURSERY. 
The ground most proper for this nursery is some old kitchin garden that has been 
worn out by lying long under turnips, potato’s, or the like, where the soil is loose 
and clean from weeds ; but if necessitated to make use of lay ground, more pains 
must be taken in turning it up, to make right fallow ground of it. It must be well 
rak’d or harrow’d, and clear’d of the roots of weeds and grass, and, above all, 
to be well secur’d from all sorts of cattel, and shelter’d, so as that the hedges or 
any other trees may not overtopp or shade the plants. 
METHOD OF PLANTING IN THE NURSERY. 
Upon setting out your younger plants into the nursery there’s no need of being 
so exact as to make use of a line, &c., which will be a loss of time to little purpose. 
It may, therefore, suffice (the bed being once prepar’d) that a gardner, with two 
labourers, follow the ensuing method:—First, one of the labourers begins, and 
with a long pole makes a mark (by pressing it with his foot) cross the bed at every 
distance its design’d the plants shall stand ; this don, he enters with a narrow- 
mouthed spade where he made the first mark, and, being guided thereby, makes a 
smal rill or gutter therewith, such as the gardner judges sufficient to receive the 
roots of the trees; the rill to be three or four inches deep. Thus he proceeds thro’ 
