24 PLANTING. 



By the beginning of March favourable weather will have occurred to 

 use the harrows so as to obtain a proper depth of surface mould in which 

 to sow (ho seeds; but it is essential that the greatest possible depth of 

 mould be obtained, though the time of sowing be delayed until the middle 

 of that month, but which should be avoided if possible. 



There are two distinct varieties of the British oak, differing in the quality 

 of the timber and quickness of growth. In collecting the acorns for sow- 

 ing, therefore, it is of consequence to select those of the most valuable 

 variety. The discriminating characters of these will be pointed out here- 

 after, when we enumerate all the different species and varieties of forest- 

 trees : here it will be sufficient to mention, that the most valuable variety of 

 the oak is distinguished by having the acorns on footstalks (Quercus 

 Rolur pcdunculfUa), and the less valuable variety by bearing the r.corns 

 without footstalks (Quercus Robur Scssillflora). If it were possible to 

 have the land in a fit state for sowing in autumn, as soon as the acorns 

 were ripe, and the attacks of mice, birds, and insects upon them could be 

 securely guarded against during the winter, the autumn would be doubt- 

 less the most favourable season for sowing ; but as this can seldom be 

 done, the acorns must be carefully preserved until spring, by spreading 

 them out in a thin layer on a dry, cool floor. When placed in sand, unless 

 the same be perfectly dry, the acorns are apt to vegetate ; and the same thing 

 happens when they are placed in heaps, or in too thick a layer. 



The land being thus prepared for the reception of the seed, and the 

 acorns ready, drills or furrows should be drawn with the hand-hoe two 

 inches deep, and at intervals of four feet. In order that the rows of plants 

 may not obstruct the surface-water from passing off by the declining sides 

 of the ridges, a point of great importance in this kind of soil ; the fur- 

 rows for the seed should be at right angles to the ridges. The one-horse 

 drill which, under other circumstances, would be the most economical mode 

 of drawing the drills, is inconvenient here, on account of the curve of the 

 ridges and the open drains in the furrows, over which the drill would have 

 to pass*. The acorns should be dropped in the furrows at about two 

 inches apart: this thick sowing is to guard against the numberless ca- 

 sualties which thin them in the course of their vegetation in an exposed, field 

 or common, and also to allow the selection of the strongest seedlings to 

 stand for timber a part of the duty of the planter requiring great atten- 

 tion, and which hitherto has scarcely been attended to, or but incidentally. 

 The acorns should be carefully covered with two inches depth of mould. 

 The back of a large wood-rake will be found to fill up the drills effectually 

 and with dispatch. As soon as the young plants appear above ground, the 

 soil should be hoed, and every appearance of weeds destroyed. Hand 

 hoeing must be repeated as often as weeds appear, or the surface of the 

 ground becomes hardened ; in fact the land must be kept in as clean a 

 state, and as free from weeds, as the best managed seedling beds in a 

 nursery garden, or disappointment and failure in a greater or less degree 

 is certain to follow. The surface of a soil of this description, as regards 

 the ll lyrrminalion of seeds and growth of seedling plants, requires 



to be kept aluays in a triable, loo>e stale; for it'onee it becomes hardened 

 and cracks, the seedling plants will be injured, their leaves assume a pale 

 sickly hue, and their growth will be greatly retarded. Where the plants are 

 suffered to remain long in this state, the sap \essels become contracted in 

 the bark and leaves, and the plants never regain that vigour of constitution 

 which, in this stage of their growth, is so t>s -mini to their future perfec- 



* These drains are recommended to be made immediately after the ridges are formed, 

 that the land may have the benefit of their free action a twelvemonth at least before the 

 sowing of the seeds. 



