122 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Fes, 1900) 
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Pricking Out.—The seedlings just pulled out of the germinating bel 
should not be handled more than necessary. -A large green leaf makes a @") 
receptacle for them, and in this they may be carried to the beds. One or WY" 
small sticks must be cut about twice the thickness of a pencil, 1 foot or so lous 
and pointed at one end, with which to prick holes. A board with the distance 
cut on it is better than string or rope for marking. The hole should be m 
4 or 5 inches deep; and if the stick is twisted on being pulled out the hole ™” 
not immediately: fill in again even if the soil is somewhat dry. The seed linge 
then (having had the taproots nipped back when necessary), should be put 
deep and pulled up again slightly. This is to ensure the taproot being. quilt 
straight. ‘Then when the seedling, still held between the finger and thumb, 
about the same level as it was in the germinating bed, the stick should agam |” 
inserted alongside the original hole and as deep, and the earth gently but firm!) 
levered against ihe root of the seedling. Beware of pricking out in sué b| 
manner that, though the plant seems firm, the earth is not pressed against the 
root all the way down—for if so the seedling will droop and die within the day: | 
In picking out seedlings from the germinating bed examine the roots of eat! 
and discard twisted or bent roots at once, drooping or sickly seedlings, and thos) 
that are imperfectly formed or have a hard, thin, whitish stalk instead of!) 
comparatively thick and green stalk. These had better be thrown away befor) 
any more time or money is wasted over them. In short, select the fittest. all 
Distance Apart——Not less than 4 inches and up to 6 inches is a $0 
distance. If closer, the plants begin to grow weedy and whippy by the eh 
they are 6 inches high. Jf any are intended to stand over as stumps for nex" 
year, plant at least 6 inches apart and further if space willallow. Four inche® 
is sufficient for plants that will be put out in the field when 8 to 10 inches hig! 
to which size they will grow from four to six months after pricking out into ©" 
beds. | 
Manuring.—Vhis should be quite unnecessary in a new nursery. If in i 
old nursery, a little well-rotted farmyard. manure, ashes, and sand or butt : 
earth, in equal proportions, may be mixed in the:soil on the beds before prickiti 
out; and if the plants do not come on well after two or three months m ur 
beds, a little weak liquid manure, such as fresh cowdung mixed in water unt 
it can be readily poured through the rose of a watering-can, may be used, i) 
the bed must be pricked over lightly soon afterwards to get the full benefit) 
this. Beware of artificial manures, and liquid manures too strong in ammol” 
Artificial or commercial fertilisers had better be avoided in the nursery. + a 
are dangerous unless very carefully and lightly applied, and should in any cae 
not be used once the seedlings ate pricked out. A purely nitrogenous manl 
might be used, but potash or phosphoric acid are both unnecessary in this ata 
of the plant. I would, however, deprecate the use of any manure yet 
enough when the trees are older and need a stimulant. a, 
Watering must be carefully attended to, and the beds also kept free frond | 
weeds. No mulch, whether cut or whole, is necessary or advisable. ‘The be 
should be sufficiently shaded without. Watering once a day will be neces.) 
(unless the weather is cloudy or wet, of course) at first, but this can be eradua s 
reduced to once a week, as the plants get their third and fourth pairs of leave { 
yen under the nursery shade it is better, when possible, to get the waterile 
done either before sunrise or after sunset. f ni 
The plants will not need much attention after this. An occasional yi 
weeding, which must be done by hand, will be found necessary ; but 1 \ t 
ground is well and carefully prepared, not many weeds will show for the Dy ; 
month or more, and, after the plants cover the ground, very few will gro 
The shade must be regulated, however, and gradually decreased as menti0”’ 
before. The branches used will by this time have begun to shed their lea™’/ 
and if they do not drop fast enough a shake now and again will be fou" 
sufficient. I have seen ti-tree branches used with good results. af 
Natural shade cannot be made use of for nurseries. However high # a 
light it may be, seedlings will not come on well if the nursery be made un elie 
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