506 WISCONSIN FRUIT-GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
RAISING AND PLANTING OF EVERGREENS. 
BY SAMUEL EDWARDS, OF LA MOILLE, ILLS. 
La Moille, Ills., Dec. 31,1858. 
Dear Sir :—In fulfillment of my promise, I offer a few items 
of my experience in growing Evergreen trees. 
From several carefully conducted experiments in growing 
from the seed, I am led to doubt the economy of thus obtaining 
plants, except of the Red Cedar, which is at home, in our gen¬ 
erally dry climate. 
Yet it is my present purpose to “ try again,” a general as¬ 
sortment of seeds the coming season. Red Cedar berries 
should be bruised early in March, and mixed with an equal or 
greater bulk of wet, wood ashes. In three weeks the alkali 
will have “cut” the resinous gum, when the seeds can be wash¬ 
ed clean from the pulp. In preparing the seed beds, dig the 
ground a foot or more in depth, mix for three or four inches at 
the surface a liberal dressing of well-rotted leaf-mould, or wood 
soil, and sharp sand. 
Lay off the beds four feet wide, legthwise, east and west; 
sow the seeds in rows a foot apart, running across the bed. 
This gives room for deep culture which is essential. Along 
the south side of the bed, drive stout stakes one and a half feet 
above the surface, also another row on the north side, two and 
a half feet high. Rails are nailed on the tops of the stakes, 
across which, freshly cut brush with foliage on, is placed, be¬ 
fore very hot weather, to screen from the scorching rays of the 
sun—also, a wide board is laid along the the south side of the 
short stakes, to keep out the sun and drying winds. If there 
is a prospect of drouth, water occasionally, in the evening. In 
October, the shading may be removed, and a mulching of two 
inches of leaves put along the rows. 
