FRUIT-GROWERS’ REPORT. 
435 
it firmly with the back of the spade when filled, to give it a 
complete form; rake the surface slightly with an iron-tooth 
rake, that it may be light and loose. If the compost is in the 
least degree dry (which is not apt to be the case in the early 
spring), give it now a thorough watering with the watering pot; 
then w T ait a day or two until the surface is sufficiently dried to 
work free and light when the seed may be sown. If the soil 
is sufficiently moist, sow at once; which should be done as 
early in the spring as the ground can be worked without injury 
from clogging. The plants will then start and make the most 
of their growth before the warm and dryest weather. In this 
latitude sow from tenth to twentieth of April, varying with 
seasons. Scatter the seed thickly and evenly over the surface, 
(if all grow many will die); cover them with some of the same 
material of which the bed is made, containing one-third sand 
instead of one-fifth, and sift it through a fine sand sieve evenly 
upon them ; for Norway Spruce to the depth of one-third of an 
inch. Too much pains cannot be taken in mixing the com 
post with materials perfectly free from foul seeds. They will 
be sure to grow, and the trouble of weeding, beside the loss 
and damage in displacing the young plants Yvdiile weeding, will 
be great. Cover the surface with moss if it can be had, oth¬ 
erwise cut straw a half inch long, and spread evenly over it to 
the depth of half an inch or so; this will be a two-fold benefit, 
by keeping the seeds and young plants from drying, and pre¬ 
venting the surface from baking by constant watering from the 
pot if the w r eather is dry and requires it; the mulch need not 
be removed; it will be found equally as beneficial in the latter 
as early part of the season. 
Immediately after the seed is sown a shade should be provided; 
not only from the hot sun, but to keep off the dry, driving 
winds, which will ten'd to absorb more moisture than the heat 
of the sun. Evergreens like a moist atmosphere; which by no 
means implies a water-soaked one; and it is for the purpose of 
keeping up a moist equable atmosphere, that the shade is used, 
viz: to prevent too great an evaporation. In this respect we 
must imitate nature as far as possible; she grows them in the 
