mold will become, and the mellower will be the old cultivated soil. In a manner similar to this, all soils, which are not naturally rich, ought to be treated. No department of planting calls more loudly for a spirited management than the seminary; which, if not rich and deep by nature, ought to be made so by art, at almost any expence.

IN large undertakings, a separate seminary may be necessary; 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 seminary with the kitchen garden: the seed beds are always under the eye, and are more likely to be defended from weeds and vermin, there, than in a detached seminary, that is only visited occasionally; and, when the ground has borne a crop of seedling plants, it may be applied to the purpose of culinary herbs; while that which has been long under crops of these, may be changed to nursery beds. In whatever situation it is placed, it 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, also, the kitchen garden has a preference.

It would be idle to give particular directions for laying out a seminary, or to say, under this general head, where this or that seed should be

sown. 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. These dimensions render them convenient to be weeded, without the plants being trodden or kneeled upon.

THE methods of sowing are various; as DIBBLING, DRILLING, and BROADCAST; which last is the most prevailing method. Seeds sown in the promis cuous broadcast manner, are covered either with the rake, or with the spade (or sieve). COVERING WITH THE SPADE (or sieve) is the common practice, and is thus performed: The surface 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 mold is raked off the beds, into the intervals, in proportion to the depth the seeds require to be buried, and according to the nature of the soil, taken jointly. In a light sandy soil, the seeds require to be buried deeper than they do in a strong loam; and while an acorn may be covered from one to three inches deep, the seeds of the Larch will not bear more than from a quarter to three forths of an inch. The new surface being rendered perfectly fine and level, the seeds are sown, and, in some cases, pressed gently into the mold, 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 casting it on with the spade, with a kind of sleightwhich nothing but practice can give, or by sifting it on, through a sieve (an operation more easy to the inexpert, and in many cases preferable) as even and regularly as possible. The intervals cleared, the beds neated up, and, if the soil be light, or the seed requires it, their surfaces patted with the back of the spade, so as to give them a kind of polished firmness, the business is finished. DRILLING is performed two ways; By drawing open drills, with hoes, in the common manner; or by taking off the surface of the beds, drawing lines upon the new surface, laying or scattering the seeds along these lines, and covering them with the spade or sieve, as above directed for broadcast sowing. DIBBLING requires no description.

THE next business of the seminary is to defend the seed and seedlings from birds, vermin, the weather, and weeds. Nets are the best guard against birds, and traps against vermin. As a defence against the scorching heat of the sun, the beds should be hooped, and mats occasionally spread over them, in the manner of a tilt or awning; but, when the scorching abates, the mats should be removed, to give the plants the benefits of the

atmosphere; and, in dry weather, the beds should be bept constantly watered. The awnings are equally safeguards against spring frosts, than which nothing is more injurious to seedling plants. In respect to WEEDS, there is a general rule, which ought not to be departed from; that is, not to suffer them to get too strong, 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 seeds, or tender seedlings, 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 be, especially by a continuance of frost and thaw, alternately, coal ashes may be sifted over them. If this evil has already taken place, and the roots appear exposed above ground, some fine mold should first be sifted on, to cover the roots, and then the ashes sifted over the mold. the plants be BEATEN OUT OF THE GROUND BY HEAVY RAINS, the remedy is similiar.

THE length of time between the sowing of the seed and the appearance of the plant, is very uncertain: much depends upon the season, and still more upon the nature of the plant itself. Some seeds lie in the ground a whole year before they vegetate, and some two or three years,—as will be mentioned under their respective Species.

During this time the beds should be kept free from weeds and moss; and, in case of a long continu ance of dry weather, should be well watered. After very heavy rains, which are liable to dissolve and wash away part of the surface soil, it is well to rake the beds slightly, and sift over them a little fresh mold: this prevents the surface from incrusting, and at once gives a supply of air, and of nourishment, to the embryo plants.

BEDS OF COMPOST are made by mixing drift sand, or other materials, with the natural soil of the seminary; or with virgin mold, taken from a rich meadow, or old pasture ground. But the particular ingredients of a compost depend upon the nature of the plant to be raised; and the reader is referred to the respective Species, in the ALPHABET OF PLANTS, for further information on this head.

THE mode of raising plants, in POTS and BOXES, also depends greatly upon the particular plant to be raised. The chief intent of this method is to guard the embryo and seedling plants from the extremes of heat and cold. The pots are filled with compost, suited to the plant. For examples, see the articles ANNONA, ARALIA, AZALIA, MELIA, PISTACIA, &c. &c.