timbers are desired, the system of regeneration by sprouts is prac- 

 ticable. To insure sprouting, the stumps should be cut low and 

 smooth. 



Small edible acorns are borne in abundance by the white oak nearly 

 every year and makire in September or October. Since the acorns 

 germinate readily when they fall on fresh soil or beds of leaves, 

 natural reproduction is usually abundant where the seed is not eaten 

 by rodents. 



In starting a plantation of white oak it usually is advisable to plant 

 the acorns on the planting site, rather than to use nursery stock, 

 because of the difficulty and expense involved in transplanting the 

 seedlings. 



Seed should be collected from middle-aged, vigorous trees only, 

 since the seed from young trees does not produce strong healthy plants, 

 and that from old trees is small and inferior. Acorns of the white 

 oak germinate soon after they fall from the trees; therefore they 

 should be gathered immediately and planted or stratified in sand 

 before the developing sprouts are large enough to be injured by 

 handling. Stored acorns lose some of their vitality, and therefore 

 should be planted in the fall, except in localities where there are many 

 squirrels. Squirrels and other rodents are very fond of white oak 

 acorns because of their sweetness; often it will be necessary, where 

 danger from squirrels threatens, to resort to spring planting. The 

 acorns should be stored for the winter by stratifying in a box of moist 

 sand, using 3 bushels of sand to 1 bushel of seed. In some cases it 

 may even be advisable to grow seedlings in a nursery where protec- 

 tion can be assured. The acorns should be sown in the spring in a 

 carefully prepared seed bed, spaced about 3 inches apart in drills 

 and covered to a depth of 1 inch. 



One pound of white oak seed contains about 100 acorns, and one 

 bushel, about 9,000 acorns. A bushel of good seed will sow 2,000 

 linear feet of drill, and, if planted under favorable conditions, should 

 produce 7,500 plants. 



The root system of the white oak consists of a taproot, re enforced 

 by numerous deep seated, lateral roots. During the seedling stage 

 the root system develops rapidly, while the part above ground grows 

 very slowly until the roots are well established. Root pruning is a 

 necessary preliminary operation to transplanting. 



PLANTING. 



Fall planting of the acorns in the permanent site as soon as they 

 mature is advisable for extensive operations. The seed may bf sown 

 broadcast on open land or abandoned fields and the cover given with 

 a harrow. Broadcast sowing will require about 12 bushels of seed per 



[Cir. 106] 



