Jg CULTIVATION OF OAKS. 



of oaks, would therefore be rendering an eflential fervlce to 

 the nation. The defire of accomplifliing fo beneficial a pur- 

 pofe, has induced the judicious and public-fpirited conduftors 

 of the Society of Arts to propofe a premium for " afcertaining 

 •' the beft method of raiiing oaks :" — in confequence of which, 

 this paper is fubmitted to their candid confideration. And as 

 tke ftatements here made are founded upon a fedulous and 

 active experience of fifty years, it is prefumed the ffnrit and 

 7rieanirig of the Society's propofal may have been obferved, 

 although it has not been poffible (in this inftance) literally to 

 fulfil its terms ; at leaft, the very intention of promoting and 

 forwarding the views of fo enlightened and highly ufeful a 

 Society, may, it is hoped, be accepted as an apology for 

 calling their attention to thefe obfervations. 

 Cultivation of Jt forms no part of the prefent defign to enter minutely 

 ya,,g^ " into the various caufes that continue to operate in obflruding 



the cultivation of oak ; as there is one of peculiar magnitude, 

 the confequences of which are highly detrimental and inju- 

 rious, and which it is therefore the principal objed of this 

 paper to remove, 

 from a notion of ^^ opinion is generally prevalent, that the oak is particu- 

 growt^ ° ^^^^y ^^^ "^ ^^^ growth, and requires a great number of years 

 before it aflfbrds any advantage. This idea too often deters 

 from planting, on account of the very great length of time it 

 is fuppofed the land muH be occupied before any return of 

 valuable produce can be obtained from it, after a confiderable 

 expence may have been incurred in forming plantations, 

 whichisamif- This opinion I confider as entirely founded in error, and 

 to have taken its rife in a great meafure from the want of pro- 

 per management that has hitherto commonly prevailed in the 

 raifing of oaks : and in this paper I ftiall endeavour ftrongly to 

 ftate, that the oak may be rendered very rapid in its growth, 

 and that confequently land may be employed to great advan- 

 tage in its cultivation, as a very confiderable and profitable 

 ' produce may, in a much (horter time than is generally fup- 

 pofed, be derived from proper parts of an eftate thus employed. 

 Oaks are fufFer- Qak-timber in this country, for the moft part, appears in 

 (flowiy) with a trees of a confiderable extent of head, but feldom more than 

 ihortftemand tn;enti/ or iltirty feet in flem ; and this, in many inftances, the 

 their Ji»e may be ^^owth of a Century. Now, by the courfe of management 



here 



