140 THE PRACTICAL PLANTER. 



The further treatment of the sown Oaks, 

 when different from that of planted ones, 

 will be found in the succeeding Sections of 

 this Chapter. 



SECTION VII. 



Culture. 



So far as respects keeping the ground with 

 the hoe, where practicable, or otherwise de- 

 stroying noxious plants, as whins, broom, 

 bramble, fern, &c. till the trees are esta- 

 blished, and fairly overtop them ; also, beet- 

 ing, or filling up of vacancies, &c. is the 

 subject of this Section. 



1st. OF KEEPING THE GROUND WITH 



THE HOE. That, by doing so, the trees, in 

 most cases, reap infinite advantage from the 

 practice, cannot be disputed. But, in exten- 

 sive planting, the expence is generally an 

 insurmountable obstacle. However, there 

 are some instances where even prudence 

 forbids the practice. These are, light sandy 

 or gravelly steeps, and in all cases where 

 slit planting is performed. 



