CHAP, ii S Y L V A 15 



Note that 6 bushels of acorns will sow or plant an 

 acre, at one foot's distance. And if you mingle 

 among the acorns the seeds of Genista sptnosa, or furs, 

 they will come up without any damage, and for a 

 while needs no other fence, and will be kill'd by the 

 shade of the young oaklings before they become 

 able to do them any prejudice. 



One rule I must not omit, that you cast no seeds 

 into the earth whilst it either actually rains, or that it 

 be over sobb'd, till moderately dry. 



To this might something be expected concerning 

 the watring of our seminaries and new plantations ; 

 which indeed require some useful directions (especi- 

 ally in that you do by hand) that you pour it not 

 with too great a stream on the stem of the plant, 

 which washes and drives away the mould from the 

 roots and fibers) but at such distance as it may 

 percolate into the earth, and carry its vertue to 

 them, with a shallow excavation, or circular basin 

 about the stalk ; and which may be defended from 

 being too suddenly exhausted and drunk up by the 

 sun, and taken away before it grow mouldy. The 

 tender stems and branches should yet be more gently 

 refreshed, lest the too intense rays of the sun darting 

 on them, cause them to wither, as we see in our 

 fibrous flower-roots newly set : In the mean time, 

 for the more ample young plantations of forest and 

 other trees, I should think the hydrantick engine 

 (call'd the quench-fire) (described in the Phil. Tran- 

 saction^ Num. 128) might be made very useful, 

 rightly manag'd, and not too violently pointed against 

 any single trees, but so exalted and directed, as the 

 stream being spread, the water might fall on the 

 ground like drops of rain ; which I should much 



