138 - THE PRACTICAL PLANTER. 



planted trees will fail, by sowing their pits 

 with acorns unnecessary expence in becting 

 may be saved. But, later than the third 

 season after planting, unless the situation is 

 very bleak, and the planted trees are making 

 little progress, it would be imprudent to 

 sow ; since, particularly if the soil be rich, 

 the sown plants might be drawn up too weak, 

 or be choaked by the planted ones. 



The only necessary implement for this 

 business is the hand mattock. The handle is 

 eighteen inches long ; the head about fifteen, 

 having one end resembling an adze, four in- 

 ches broad in the face, and the other a pick, 

 about ten inches in length, tapering, and 

 sharpened at the point. It resembles a to- 

 mahawk with the face of the axe reversed, 

 so as to cut at right angles with the handle. 



The season for sowing is, all the month of 

 April. Three nuts are to be sown in each 

 patch. I have been accustomed to place 

 the patches at from twenty-four to thirty 

 feet asunder each way, according to the qua- 

 lity of the soil, and probability of success. 

 Also, varying the distance for the sake of 

 sowing in a formerly made pit, out of which 



