Page images
PDF
EPUB

SUBJECT THE FIRST.

PLANTING.

DIVISION THE FIRST.

MANUAL OPERATIONS.

B

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

EFORE we attempt to give directions for cultivating WOODLANDS, or raifing ORNAMENTAL PLANTATIONS, it will be proper to give a comprehensive view of the MANUAL OPERATIONS incident to

PROPAGATING,

TRAINING

PLANTING and

TRANSPLANTING

Trees and Shrubs in general.

BUT before the young planter put his foot upon the fpade, we beg leave to caution him, in the

[blocks in formation]

ftrongest.terms, against a WANT OF SPIRIT In Planting. A flovenly planter ranks among the most extravagant order of flovens: the labour, the plants, and the ground are thrown away; befides the confequent difgrace, not only to the individual, but to the profeffion. Anxious and interested as we are in the cause of planting, we would rather want pupils, than have them pafs through our hands unfinished: we therefore reject all fuch as have not industry, fpirit, and perfeverance, to go through with what they undertake; and we recommend to fuch as are poffeffed of these valuable qualifications, to begin upon a fmall fcale, and to let their feminaries, their nurferies, and their plantations, increafe with their experience.

WHILE, however, we caution our readers against entering, immaturely, upon the bufinefs of planting, we cannot refrain from mentioning the PLEASURES which refult from it. How rational, and to a contemplative mind how delightful, to obferve the operations of Nature ;-to trace her in every stage, from the feed to the perfected plant; and, from beneath the leaf ftalk of this, through the flower bud, the flower, and the feed veffel, to the feed again! Man must be employed; and how more agreeably than in converfing with Nature, and in feeing the works of his own hands, affifted by her, rifing into perfection.

NOR

Nor do we mean to hold out pleafure, alone, as an inducement to planting;-its PROFITS are great, when properly executed; and this idea adds folidity to the enjoyment. Pleafure alone may fatiate; but profit and pleasure, united, feldom fail of producing a lafting gratification.

THERE is another incitement to planting, which alone has been generally held out as a fufficient inducement. We are forry to confefs, however, that we know too much of mankind to believe that PATRIOTISM, unaided by perfonal intereft, will ever produce a fupply of ship timber to this or any other nation. Far be it from us, however fashionable it may be, to fpeak irreverently of patriotifm; we confider it as the nobleft attribute of the human mind. Young men, to whom we more particularly addrefs ourselves, are feldom without fome share of it; and we flatter ourselves that this virtuous principle, affifted by the pleasure, the profit, and the POPULARITY which attends planting, will induce the young men of the prefent age to study and practife it; not more for themfelves, than for future generations.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

I. PROPAGATING FROM SEED.-There are four ways of raifing, from feed, the trees and shrubs adapted to our purpose:

[blocks in formation]

Ir will be expected, perhaps, before we begin to treat of the different methods of fowing, that we give fome directions for GATHERING and preferving feeds. Little, however, can be faid upon the fubject under this general head; different fpecies requiring a difference in management, We may, nevertheless, venture to say, that all feeds

ought

ought to be fully matured upon their native plants, and we may further add, that fuch as drop fpontaneously from the feed veffel, or are fhed by a moderate wind, or other gentle agitation, are preferable to those which are torn from the tree, immaturely. The feeds of fcarce, or valuable plants may be gathered thus: As foon as they begin to fall, voluntarily, fpread a cloth under the plant, and agitate it moderately, until all that are ripe have fallen; and repeat this, whenever a fecond, and a third, fpontaneous fall takes place.

THE art of PRESERVING feeds refts chiefly upon that of curing them, immediately after gathering. If grafs were put into the ftack immediately, after mowing, or corn threshed out, at harvest, and laid in heaps, it would prefently heat, and be entirely fpoiled. So it is with the feeds of trees and shrubs : therefore, they ought, as foon as they are gathered, to be fpread thin, in an airy place, and be turned, as often as a clofe attention fees neceffary. When the fuperfluous moisture has evaporated, they may be collected into bulk; remembering, however, to run them frequently down a fkreen, or fhake them in a fieve, that their brightnefs and fweetnefs may be preferved. Some of the larger feeds, acorns efpecially, are difficult to cure, and require a very strict attention.-It must alfo be remembered, that mice, and other vermin, are dangerous

enemies

« PreviousContinue »