PLANTING. 139 



a planted tree had died. But, as I have ne- 

 ver sown acorns on a bad soil or much ex- 

 posed situation, in this case I would rather 

 advise that the distance from patch to patch 

 be within twenty feet. 



Proceed thus : With the broad end of the 

 mattock, pare off the turf, weeds, &c. as 

 thin as possible, which throw aside ; with 

 the pick end, stir the soil to its full depth if 

 less than nine or ten inches, and to the ex- 

 tent of a foot diameter ; make three holes 

 as with a dibble, using the handle for this 

 purpose, three inches deep, and six apart ; 

 in each drop an acorn, and close them with 

 the foot. And so on, until the sowing be 

 completed. 



About midsummer, let the field be gone 

 over, and all the patches, whether the plants 

 have then appeared or not, be cleaned of 

 weeds, &c. By the middle or end of May 

 following, the plants will all have come up. 

 Clean the patches at this time, and also 

 about midsummer. Next March, go over 

 the field ; single out the best plant in each 

 patch ; take the others carefully up, and 

 carry them to the nursery. 



