246 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



protection wood, or two-storied high forest ; if trees of 

 large diameter and moderate height are wanted, standards 

 in coppice woods. 



h. Formation of Woods. 



The Oak is principally regenerated by sowing and 

 planting or by stool shoots in coppice, less frequently 

 by natural regeneration by seed. 



The acorns ripen in October (pedunculate early, sessile 

 late), and fall shortly afterwards; they retain their 

 germinating power for about six months. Good seed 

 should show a germinating per-centage of not less 

 than 65 per cent. One pound contains about 130 

 acorns of the pedunculate species, and somewhat more 

 of the sessile Oak. 



Direct sowings are made in autumn or spring ; 

 as to their merits see the remarks under Beech 

 (p. 234). Spring sowings sprout after 4 to 6 weeks. 

 About 550 pounds of acorns are required per acre for 

 broadcast sowings ; they are covered with about 1^ 

 inches of soil. 



Sowings in nurseries are generally made in drills, or 

 the acorns are placed flush on the seed-bed in rows, 

 and covered with 1J inches of soil. The seed- 

 lings should be pricked out when one year old; they 

 are ready for putting out after two years more ; 

 frequently older plants are used, which may have been 

 pricked out a second time. The plants stand pruning 

 well, both on the crown and roots. They are generally 

 planted out in pits. 



In regenerating Oak woods naturally by seed, the acorns 



