ON PLANTING WITH OAKS. 157 



When, therefore, a young tree is removed at once from the spot 

 on which it grew, to that on which it is to stand, the end of 

 the tap-root is almost necessarily broken off or much injured, 

 always much retarding, — sometimes fatally, — the progress of 

 the young tree. To obviate this evil, the French nurserymen 

 make the acorn or other seed germinate in moist earth or saw- 

 dust, and, before planting it, pinch off the end of the root. This 

 causes the plant immediately to throw out side fibres. For the 

 same purpose, it is the practice in England either to transplant 

 the oak after one or two years' growth, removing at the time a 

 part of the tap-root, or to cut it off without removing, by insert- 

 ing a spade, obliquely, six or eight inches beneath the surface. 

 In either case, the plant has several roots to depend upon, in 

 place of its single original tap-root. In some cases, after it has 

 grown in the place where it is to remain, for two or three years, 

 it is cut down to the ground ; it will then throw up vigorous 

 shoots, and send down perpendicular roots. All but the most 

 promising of the shoots may be carefully removed. This has 

 been tried with marked success by Morrill Allen, of Pembroke, 

 who has paid much attention to the cultivation of the oak. 



The foreign oaks which seem most worthy of cultivation in 

 this State, are the two native oaks of England. Both these 

 have been introduced, and are growing in various situations 

 in the neighborhood of Boston. They are perfectly adapted 

 to our climate, and flourish as well and grow as rapidly, and 

 mature their abundant acorns as surely, as any of our own 

 oaks, except the red. When young, they are extremely beau- 

 tiful and ornamental, and, when full grown, they are among 

 the most magnificent trees known. The sessile-fruited oak, 

 (Qucrcus sessilijlora,) is considered less valuable; the stalk- 

 fruited (Quercus pedimadala,) being now almost universally 

 preferred as a far superior tree. As objects of beauty, and for 

 their value in the art of ornamental culture, as well as for use, 

 no foreign trees present so strong claims to our attention. 



The oaks are better fitted than almost any other trees, to 

 stand along the borders of cultivated fields ; as, where the soil 

 is deep enough to allow it, they send their roots to a consider- 

 able depth, and thus disturb but slightly the growth of grass and 

 other herbaceous plants and low shrubs. 



