SYLVICULTURE. 



usually reinforced by planted seedlings. The latter are taken from 

 adjoining dense spots. In broad-leaved species, the blanks where 

 planting has failed, had better be marked during the preceding 

 summer. 



Paragraph XVI. Planting seeds of the broad-leaved species. 



A. Acorns. 



The germinating acorn leaves the cotyledons below ground. 

 If the first shoot is killed another forms at once. A shelter (or 

 usher) growth to husband a plantation during its first years is 

 hardly needed. Still plantations of Yellow Pine made to protect 

 the Oaks planted between the Pines are often found abroad. Its 

 long tap root prevents the Oak from being lifted by frost. 



The soil cover given varies between one and three inches, 

 according to the looseness and porosity of the soil. In case of 

 spring sowing, germination requires from five to six weeks. 



At Biltmore, White Oak and Chestnut Oak acorns planted in fall 

 are often found sprouting before Christmas. The germ in such 

 cases, however, does not appear above the ground. Red Oak and 

 Black Oak seem to sprout only in spring. Acorns may be sown 

 broadcast, especially on abandoned fields. Formerly acorns were 

 planted often with oats and barley or summer rye. The cover 

 is given with a harrow in case of broadcast planting. 



More often acorns are planted in furrows from two to seven 

 feet apart. It is better to plant acorns closely within furrows 

 far apart, than sparingly in furrows near together. The cover is 

 given either by a second furrow or by hoe or rake. 



Cultivation between rows (during summer) is not practiced 

 aoroad. On abandoned fields at Biltmore it seems required for the 

 pvnpose of checking mice, squirrels and rabbits. 



Where acorns are planted for mixture merely with Beech, Pine 

 and Chestnut, the planting in irregular patches or else " oversoiling " 

 are often used. In the latter case a handful of acorns is roughly 

 covered by a shovelful of dirt. 



The usual method adopted abroad for raising Oak is dibbling. 



The answer to the question whether spring or fall planting is 

 better, depends on the number of enemies preying on the acorns in 

 winter. Since the Black Oaks are not much molested, it might be 

 as well to plant them in fall. Black Oaks suffer little in germinat- 

 ing percentage during winter storage. White Oak acorns, however, 

 are much eaten by mice, squirrels, turkeys, hogs, etc., and would 



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