As, from many facts, a considerable influence is known to result in several vegetables from drying severely the seeds from whence they had sprung[26],—from exposure of these seeds to the sun and air,—from long keeping, or from injury by mould or {109} impure air, which all tend to shorten the life of the resulting individual, to accelerate the period of its seeding, and to increase its reproductiveness; the nurseryman should pay the utmost attention to the seeds he makes use of, procuring them as recent as possible, and preserving them in well-aired lofts, or under sheds, and also retaining them in the husks till the time of sowing: the superior germinating power of the seed thus treated will repay this attention. From facts we are also assured, that, in some hard wood kinds, and also in the Coniferæ, the hanging of the growth of the young plant, the spindling up in the seed-bed, or injudicious deterring treatment afterwards, have a tendency to injure the constitution of the individual, inducing premature seeding, and diminutive old age; and also, that when plants, especially of some size, of these kinds of trees have their roots much broken, the secondary or new roots often partake something of the nature of the infirm runners, which, in most kinds of trees, are thrown out by layers,—the resulting tree, as in the case of those from layers in fruit trees being dwarfish, sooner exhausting itself by reproduction, and sooner decaying. For distinctness, we shall recapitulate: {110} That the seed be from the largest, hardiest variety of tree in luxuriant growth. That the seed be recent, and carefully preserved in husk till sowing, and extracted from the husk or cone without artificial drying. That the nursery be in an open, rather exposed situation,—most eligible without shelter either of tree, hedge or wall, of rather light dry soil of ordinary quality, of dry climate, and, in preference, soil naturally good to that made so by high manuring. That the plants be not too close, nor remain too long in the seed-bed; that they be extricated without much fracture of root, and be replanted in wide rows, with good space between the plants in the row, keeping the roots as superficially extended as they will thrive, and without doubling the main root up to the surface of the ground. That the plant receive no pruning, excepting in the case of more than one leader appearing, or feeder unproportionally extended; and no root-section, in order to retard its growth, or increase the number of root-fibres; and that its ultimate removal be accomplished without much fracture of root or branch.