66 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



they are transferred to an open lot. I think it not unlikely, that 

 in many instances they would be kept with advantage in the 

 nursery till they had attained the age of ten years, and even more. 

 I am inclined also to the belief, that the spring is a better season 

 than the fall to plant the seed. I will add, that in most in- 

 stances the seed is covered too deeply. 



The second question is in respect to the treatment of the 

 young trees. For many years, and to a very great extent, after 

 the cultivation of the forest trees began to attract some attention 

 in this county, there seems to have prevailed an opinion, that 

 they flourished best where the earth was not moved around 

 them ; that in fact all attempts at cultivation with plough, har- 

 row, spade or hoe, were contrary to the laws of nature, and 

 very hurtful, if not absolutely destructive. I have often 

 heard statements to this effect made, and have several docu- 

 ments to the same effect, from those whose opinion on the sub- 

 ject is entitled to high consideration ; and the impression upon 

 my mind is, that the same opinion, to some extent, is still 

 entertained. This opinion, it is thought, may have had its 

 rise from experiments unhappily made, growing most likely 

 from the want of a proper regard to the fact that, most trees 

 standing near together, the roots run very near the surface. 

 The culture was too deep, and many of the roots were either 

 actually cut off, or much injured in the operation. But what- 

 ever may have given rise to this opinion, or may still give prev- 

 alence to it, there are so many facts before the public of a dif- 

 ferent result, as to justify the belief that, when right culture is 

 bestowed, the happy fruits of labor will show themselves as fully 

 among the wild trees of the forest, as in the reclaimed ones of 

 the orchard. 



In the cultivation of the oak, so far as the moving and loosen- 

 ing the soil is concerned, care must be taken not to injure the 

 roots. In trimming, it should be remembered that it is an in- 

 crease of timber, and not, as in an orchard, a crop of apples, 

 which should be consulted. 



When a seedling oak springs up, whether from an acorn acci- 

 dentally falling upon the ground, or placed there by the hand of 

 man, it will for the first year appear very weak, and seem rather 



