588 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. [Jan. 



depends on whether the land is clean, or if cleaning may or can be 

 properly attended to during the second and third year after planting, 

 as to the ultimate success of planting the acorns where they are to 

 grow permanently. There will not be so much necessity for cleaning 

 the first year if our instructions are carried out, and after the third 

 year they will defy the power of weeds. Our correspondent says 

 nothing about shelter, which is an important condition of success 

 in such a project, for it certainly would not succeed well if the 

 ground is much exposed to wind in spring and early summer. 

 But assuming that it is fairly sheltered, we would proceed as 

 follows : Let the ground be marked off in rows five feet wide in the 

 direction of its fall or slope, and dig each row from end to 

 end, one s]3it deep and one spit wide, turning the grass top down- 

 wards and breaking or cutting each spit with the spade. Then dig 

 a drain midway between and parallel with each row, about 1 8 inches 

 wide and one spit deep, laying the earth on the top of the newly 

 dug row, the turf side downwards, and breaking each spit roughly — 

 finish the drains by clearing out the broken earth and laying it also 

 on the top of the ridge formed by the soil thus accumulated on the 

 line of the row, which will then be fully prepared to receive the 

 acorns. The advantage of this method is that it increases the 

 actual depth of the soil in the position which the trees are intended 

 to occupy, while the shallow drains aided by the increased elevation 

 of the rows will draw off the surface water and secure a comfortable 

 bed for the seed. Before planting the acorns, give them a good 

 coating of red lead to make them noxious to birds and mice. To do 

 so thoroughly, put them into an old copper, wet them well, and 

 immediately sprinkle them over with red lead, and move and turn 

 and keep them moderately moist till they have taken up the whole 

 of the colouring matter and become a good bright red. Allow them 

 to dry a little and then plant with a blunt dibble similar to that 

 used in planting potatoes, placing them two or three in each hole, 

 and about 2 feet apart from hole to hole, covering them about 1-|- 

 inches. The planting should be done as soon as the acorns are ripe, 

 if possible, as they often lose vitality if they are kept over till 

 spring out of the ground ; but if to be obtained fresh, they may yet 

 be planted this season. If there are crows in the neighbourhood, a 

 watch should be placed when they begin germinating in spring, as 

 these gentry are not easily deterred from destroying them even by 

 such a coating as red lead. If all the conditions are favourable, 

 oaks reared in this way will outstrip in five years those that are 

 twice their age, while the cost of planting will be considerably 

 less. — Ed. 



