98 ESSAY ON FOREST TREES. 



vantage and profit in belts for the protection of gardens, orchards and dwellings frosi 

 noxious winds. And in these undertakings, with a little attention, beauty aud econo- 

 my can be combined. 



Among the trees which ho says can be thus introduced, is the oak. 



In the fall of 1834, I planted between one and two bushels of white oak acorns, 

 in rows ten feet apart, made by ploughing a furrow, but from acorns, not a single tree 

 came up. I presume the early frost of that year killed the acorns before they were 

 ripe. — N. Webster. 



A.Nichols, M. D. of Danvers, whose extensive scientific enquiries and nice prac- 

 tical observations, give great importance to his opinion, thinks that the oak trees 

 cannot be removed from the nursery to the open lot, without discouraging loss and 

 would therefore recommend field planting. 



The second question is in respect to the treatment of the young 

 trees For many years, and to a very great extent, after the culti- 

 vation of the forest trees began to attract some attention in this coun- 

 ty, 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, harrow, spade or hoe, was con- 

 trary to the laws of nature, and they would be very hurtful, if not 

 absolutely destructive. I have often heard statements to this effect 

 made, and have several documgnts to the same effect, from those 

 whose opinion on the subject 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 ex- 

 periments unhappily made, growing most hkely 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 whatever may have given rise to this opinion, or 

 may still give prevalency to it, there are are so many facts before the 

 public of a different result as to justify the belief that when right 

 culture is bestowed the happy fruits of labor will show themselves as 

 fully among tlie 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 loosening 

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

 In trimming, it should be remembered that it is an increase of tim- 

 ber, and not as in an orchard, a crop of apples which should be con- 

 sulted. 



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

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



