CHAPTER  IV
 

                   Nursery Work and Methods.



Assuming that  the  young plant has been raised by one or other of the

methods just described, a few words may  be devoted to its treatment

afterwards.  Whether raised from  seed or from cuttings, the newly rooted

plants stand much too closely together to remain long without mutually

damaging each  other.   Cuttings put in at the most usual time, i.e., July

and  August, do not grow  much  that year after the roots have  formed.

They are, as a rule, most conveniently rooted in pots, and in these they

may usually remain undisturbed until the following spring, when  they are

separated and planted in rows in prepared nursery ground.  Plants raised

earlier in the season from seeds or soft cuttings, having a growing season

in front of them, cannot  be wintered in the seed- or cutting-pots.  If of

vigorous constitution and  quick growth, they may be planted out in the

nursery ground as soon as well rooted.   But as by that time the season is

well advanced and hot dry days occur, it is usually necessary to give them

shading" and special  attention  in watering  for  a week  or two.  With

delicate, very small or particularly important plants it is better, especially

in the  case of  seedlings,  to  transplant them ("prick them off" is  the

common term) into shallow wooden boxes of fine  soil, although not so

fine  as  for the seeds themselves.   These  boxes, 2 or 3 ins. deep, may be

purchased cheaply at most horticultural  providers.  Treated in this way,

the  baby plants  may be  kept in  frames  or  even given  a mild heat to

ensure their quick attachment to  the  new soil, and  loss is reduced to a

minimum.  Choice rhododendrons and others  of the  heath family  can

only be treated satisfactorily in this way.   In taking the plants from the

seed- or cutting-pots reasonable  care  should be taken  to preserve the

roots as much as possible, and, if practicable, to take a little ball of soil as

well. As the plants are transferred from the seed-pot to the shallow box,

they should be set  regularly in rows,  so  that when again removed from

the boxes into  the  open ground a square block of soil may  be cut out

and  taken with  each plant.

   The ground or nursery into which young trees and shrubs  are planted

         28