OAK: PEDUNCULATE AND SESSILE 361 



clearances should be made very gradually in close-canopied 

 crops, otherwise epicormic branches will be thrown out, and 

 the trees may become stag-headed. The undercrop, if 

 suitable, may be periodically coppiced, thus constituting high 

 forest with coppice. 



Even-aged mixtures with Oak are usually not very 

 satisfactory, as the Oak will generally be outgrown, unless 

 indeed the other trees be coppiced. Where, however, 

 mixtures are attempted, the oak should be planted (pure) in 

 patches, unless indeed the mixture consist of Oak and 

 Hornbeam. In this case, however, it will often be necessary 

 to give the Oak artificial aid during the first 30 or 40 years. 

 One of the best uses for Oak is as standards over coppice. 

 They should be planted close together in little groups of 

 about 5 or 7, so as to insure having I good tree in each 

 group. The young standards must be pruned of side-branches 

 at each cutting over of the coppice. Five-year-old plants (i.e. t 

 I year 2 year 2 year) should usually be planted as standards ; 

 but for ordinary planting 3-year-old plants should generally 

 be used. 



Some of the best crops of oak have been raised by sowing 

 acorns in situ. On arable land the acorns may be sown 

 broadcast, and ploughed in with a light furrow. 



When crops are raised by artificial sowing, another good 

 plan is to sow in lines about 5 to 6 feet apart, and to have 

 about 3 rows of acorns in each line. By this means a saving 

 is effected in the labour cost of cleaning ; and the close 

 sowing in the rows ensures having some clean grown plants 

 to choose from when thinnings are made. 



Any young crops that do not show vigorous growth 

 during the 2nd and 3rd summer after being planted out, 

 should be coppiced over at the actual ground level, and, 

 finally, the best shoot selected to grow into a tree. The 

 best time to cut such trees over is in May. 



Oak may sometimes be naturally regenerated under a very 

 light canopy of mother trees. About 20 tall, well-grown 

 trees are enough to leave per acre, and most of these must 

 be removed in about 2 years' time, and the remainder by the 



