on CULTIVATION OF OAKS. 



Oaks fof timber In determining on a fpot to form a plantation of oaks for 

 arc never to i>c jj^ber, it muft always be recolleaed that the plants are to 

 remain without removal in their firft fituation : the clearing 

 and fencing may then be attended to as ufual ; and in the 

 courfe of the winter, from September to March, the particular 

 fpots intended for the reception of acorns, may be prepared 

 for that purpofe, by digging a trench about three feet in width, 

 and from three to iSx feet in depth, according to the clofenefs 

 and tenacity of the foil. If grafs-ground, the firft fpit fliould 

 be placed at the bottom of the trench ; and if more than one 

 trench be neceflTary, they fliould be prepared in the fame 

 manner, preferving a diftance of ten yards between each, if 

 it be intended to employ the intermediate fpace in underwood, 

 or for any other purpofe. 



Having made a careful feledion of acorns that are perfectly 

 found, and in good prefervation, they are to be planted about 

 the middle of March. Draw a drill in the centre of the trench ; 

 two inches in depth, if the foil be heavy and loamy ; but three 

 inches in a light and fandy earth. In this place the acorns two 

 inches afunder, and cover them carefully with mould. When 

 the plants appear, they muft be weeded by hand in the rows, 

 and the earth of the trench round them cleaned with a hoe, 

 once a month during the fummer. In October infped the rows, 

 and thin them by pulling up every other plant : attention will 

 of courfe be paid to remove the weak and crooked plants, and 

 leave thofe that are talleft and ftraiteft. On the fecond year, 

 the operation of thinning muft be repeated, at the fame time, 

 and in the fame manner ; and, fliould any of the remaining 

 plants have made lide-flioots ftrongerthan the general charac- 

 ter, they muft be fmoothly cut off with a fliarp knife, clofe 

 to the leading ftem. On the third year, the thinning is again 

 to be repeated, and the general pruning commenced, by cut- 

 ting off clofe to the leading ftem all the fide-fhoots of the firft 

 year ; thus leaving the branches of two years to form the head 

 of the following year. The removal of every alternate plant 

 muft be continued yearly, till the trees are about thirty feet 

 apart, at which diftance they may remain for timber. The 

 pruning is to be continued, by removing every year, very 

 fmooth and clofe to the main ftem, one year's growth of fide 

 branches, till the plants are arrived at a ftem of forty, fifty. 



or 



