loured, they are generally of a bad quality. But the most certain mode of trial, and that which in cafes of fufpicion ought never to be omitted, is to force a few of them in a garden-pot, placed in an artificial heat, or other warm fituation. Put in fome certain number, taken promifcuoufly from the parcel, and, from the proportional number that vegetate, a tolerably juft idea may be formed of the quality of the whole. Without this precaution a feafon may be loft, and the ufe of the land, together with the labour, be thrown away.

All the natives, and many exotics, may be raised in BEDS OF NATURAL MOULD. The foil fhould be rich, and fufficiently deep to admit of being trenched or double dug two fpit deep. If it will not bear one fpit and a half, namely about fourteen inches, it is improper for feed-beds, and fhould either be wholly rejected, or (if the fubftratum is not of too hungry and poisonous a nature) be trenched a fpit and a half deep, and the crude mould meliorated by manure and repeated diggings. Autumn is the best time to bring up the fubftratum, letting it lie in rough trenches all winter to take the froft. In the spring put on a quantity of dung, in proportion to the poverty of the foil; turning it in fuperficially, and mixing it well with the foil to be improved, Repeat this fingle digging, through the fummer, as often as convenient, or as often as the weeds, which

never fail to rise in great abundance from a fubftratum exposed to the fun and air, require it. In autumn turn up the foil from the bottom, and mix the whole well together. The longer the foil and fubftratum lie in the ftate of inverfion, the better tempered the fresh mould will become, and the mellower will be the old cultivated foil. In a manner fimilar to this, all foils which are not naturally rich ought to be treated. No department of planting calls more loudly for a fpirited management than the feminary, which, if not rich and deep by nature, ought to be made fo by art, at almost any expence.

In large undertakings a separate feminary may be neceffary; but, in general, a portion of the kitchen garden is better adapted to the purpose. There are indeed two very great advantages in mixing the feminary with the kitchen-garden: the feed-beds are always under the eye, and are more likely to be defended from weeds and vermin there, than in a detached feminary vifited only now and then ; and, when the ground has borne a crop of feedling plants, it may be applied to the purpose of culinary herbs; whilft that which has been long under crops of these may be changed to feed-beds. In whatever fituation they are placed, they must be carefully fenced against hares and rabbits, or the labour of a whole season may be cut off in a few nights: in this light alfo the kitchen-garden has a preference.

It would be idle to give particular directions for laying out a SEMINARY, or to fay under this gene. ral head where this or that feed fhould be fown. Suffice it therefore to mention here, that SEED-BEDS are generally made from four to four feet and a half wide, with intervals of one foot and a half to two feet. Thefe dimenfions render them convenient to be weeded, without the plants being trodden or kneeled upon.

The METHOD OF SOWING is various: By DIBBLING, by DRILLING, and by BROADCAST, which laft is the most prevailing method. Seeds fown in the promifcuous broadcaft manner are covered either with the rake, or with the fpade (or fieve). COVERING WITH THE SPADE (or fieve) is the common practice, and is thus performed: The furface being made light and fine by a recent digging and raking, and the beds formed (operations which every gardener and gardener's man are acquainted with), a thin coat of mould is raked off the beds into the intervals, in proportion to the depth the feeds require to be buried, and according to the nature of the foil, taken jointly. In a light fandy foil, the feeds require to be buried deeper than they do in a strong loam; and whilft an acorn may be covered from one to three inches, the feeds of Larch will not bear more than from a quarter to three-fourths of an inch. The new furface being rendered perfectly fine and level, the feeds are

fown,

fown, and in fome cafes preffed gently into the mould, by patting it with the back of the spade. The earth which was raked off into the interval (or taken off with a spade and placed in little hillocks in it) is now returned; either by cafting it on with the fpade, with a kind of fleight which nothing but practice can give, or by fifting it on through a fieve (an operation more easy to the inexpert, and in many cafes preferable) as even and regularly as poffible. The intervals cleared, the beds neated up, and if the foil be light, or the feed requires it, their furfaces patted with the back of the fpade, fo as to give them a kind of polished firmness, the bufinefs is finished. DRILLING is performed two ways: By drawing open drills with hoes in the common manner, or by taking off the furface of the beds, drawing lines upon the new furface, laying or scattering the feeds along thefe lines, and covering them with the fpade or fieve, as above directed for broadcaft fowing.

The next business of the feminary is to DEFEND the feed and feedling from BIRDS, VERMIN, the WEATHER, and WEEDS. Nets are the best guard against birds, and traps againft vermin. As a defence against the fcorching heat of the fun, the beds fhould be hooped, and matts occafionally spread over them, in the manner of a tilt or awning; but when the fcorching abates the matts fhould be taken off, to give the plants the benefits of the atmosphere;

atmosphere; and in dry weather the beds fhould be kept conftantly watered. The awnings are equally fafe-guards against fpring-frofts, than which nothing is more injurious to feedling plants. In refpect to WEEDS, there is a general rule, which ought not to be departed from; that is, not to fuffer them to get too ftrong before they be drawn; for, if they be permitted to form large roots, they not only encumber and rob the ground, but in drawing them many feeds or tender feedlings will be drawn out, with them. To prevent the young plants from being DRAWN OUT OF THE GROUND BY WINTER-FROsts, which they are very liable to, especially by a continuance of froft and thaw alternately, coal-afhes may be fifted over them. If this evil has already taken place, and the roots appear expofed aboveground, fome fine mould should firft be fifted on to cover the roots, and then the afhes fifted over the mould. If the plants be BEATEN OUT OF THE GROUND BY HEAVY RAINS, the remedy is fimilar.

The length of time between the sowing of the feed and the appearance of the plant is very uncertain much depends upon the season, and ftill more upon the nature of the plant itself. Some feeds lie in the ground a whole year before they vegetate, and fome two or three years (as will be mentioned under their respective fpecies). During this time. the beds fhould be kept free from weeds and mofs; and, in cafe of a long continuance of dry weather,

should