CULTIVATION OF OAKS. 21 



' or fixty feet, and they may then be permitted to run to head J"{^[;^^°"'i^' 

 without further pruning. oak. » 



The particular arrangement here recommended may be 

 varied according to any pecuHarities of fituation, regard being 

 conflantly had to the general and moft important principle of 

 loofening the ground rery deep previoufly to planting the acorns. 

 By this mode of culture, oaks may be raifed in almoft any foil; 

 but, where it is poflible, a loam or marl is always to be chofen. 

 Oaks thrive much the beft in fuch earth ; and, when affi fled 

 by deep trenching and judicious pruning, attain in a few years 

 to an immenfe fize. 



Thofe who have been accuftomed to notice the flow growth 

 and ftunted appearance of oak trees, when denied the affiftance 

 of art, and left to themfelves in the common way, would 

 obfervu with aftonifliment the vigorous and rapid increafe of 

 plants under the management now pointed out. 



The plants thinned out the firft three or four years, though 

 not fit to be depended upon for timber, as tranfplanting ge- 

 nerally injures very materially the future growth, may be re- 

 • planted in the intermediate fpaces between the rows, for the 

 purpofe of being afterwards removed ; or they may be ufefully 

 placed in hedges, or other fpare and unoccupied fpots of 

 ground. They fliould be headed down at the time of tranf- 

 planting, as this operation affifts the procefs of nature, in 

 reproducing or remedying any injury the tap-root may have 

 received from the removal ; and, if proper attention be given 

 to loofening the foil for their reception, and pruning them as 

 they advance, in moft jnftances an adequate profit will be 

 derived from the labour beft owed upon them. After a few 

 years, the produce of the timber-plantation will be found very- 

 advantageous. The young trees that are to be removed 

 yearly, will always find a ready market for a variety of pur- 

 pofes unnece{rary''here to enumerate. In addition to thefe 

 advantages, if by this treatment of deep trenching previous to 

 planting, and annual careful pruning during the growth, timber 

 can be produced in about fifty years, of equal quality, and 

 much fuperior in fize, to that which has been above one 

 hundred years growing under improper management, or with- 

 out the affiftance of cultivation; it will doubtlefs be allowed 

 that a moft beneficial, if not abfolutely the beft poflible method 

 of <* raiflng oaks,'' is here pointed out and afcertained. 



