THE OAK. 3^3 



The acorns ripen in October (pedunculate early, sessile 

 late), and fall shortly afterwards; they retain their ger- 

 minating power for about six months. Good seed should 

 show a germinating percentage of not less than 65. One 

 pound contains about 130 acorns of the pedunculate species, 

 and about 160 of the sessile oak. 



Direct sowings are made in autumn or spring ; as to the 

 merits of the two seasons, see the remarks under beech (page 

 318). Spring sowings sprout after 4 to 6 weeks. About 550 

 pounds of acorns are required per acre for broadcast sowings ; 

 they are covered with about Ih inches of soil. Direct sowings 

 yield finer woods than planting. 



Sowings in nurseries are generally made in drills, or the 

 acorns are placed flush on the seed bed in rows, and covered 

 with IJ inches of soil. The seedlings should be pricked out 

 when one year old ; they are ready for planting after two 

 years more ; frequently older plants are used, which may 

 have been pricked out a second time. Three, year old plants 

 may be placed 3 feet apart, and older plants proportionately 

 further. The plants stand pruning well, both on the crown 

 and roots. They are generally planted out in pits. 



Seedling plants one year old are frequently planted into the 

 forest, as they are likely to grow into better trees than pricked 

 out pleCnts ; not less than 8.000 seedhng plants should be 

 planted to the acre, so as to induce an early struggle for 

 existence. 



In regenerating oak woods naturally by seed, the acorns 

 must frequently be l)rought artificially into the ground, either 

 by driving herds of swine through the woods or lightly 

 hoeing the soil after the acorns have fallen. The seed trees 

 are removed quickly, generally within a few years after the 

 young crop has come up ; otherwise the latter is likely to 

 suffer from the shade of the mother trees. In the Spessart 

 and other localities oak is sown in groups of 1 to 10 acres in 

 extent. on the more favourable parts of beech woods, after tbe 

 latter have been heavily tbinned. As soon as the young crop 



Y'2 



