The Gardener's New Director. 447 



have in your plantations abundance of thefe Pollards, al- 

 though you do not fow their feeds; for in large woods it 

 is impoffible that every tree fhould thrive. 



In March or Aprili after you have planted your Acorns, 

 you will ohferve them to peep above the furface, when 

 you are to take care that the feed be well covered. Your 

 plants this year will probably make a confiderable pro- 

 grefs ; if fo, you may leave them to nature. The fe- 

 cond year, if you find they are llill thriving, it is a cer- 

 tain fign they are rooting well. Towards the end of thii 

 year, if you think you have planted them too thick, you 

 fhould thin them, by removing fome of the intermedi- 

 ate plants; which fliould be immediately replanted where 

 you intend they ihould continue, before their roots be- 

 come dry, otherwife they will not grow ; and if they 

 are to be fent to a diflance, be fure to lift them with as 

 much earth as you can, binding about them wet mofs, 

 to keep them moifl. This fecond year you arc alfo to 

 obferve whether your Oaks come up forked, that is, 

 with two ftems; when the weakefl: muft be entirely cut 

 off. The third year if you perceive their ftems knot, 

 and a light coloured mofTy fcab come upon them, you 

 may be alTured your trees are not thriving ; therefore 

 they are to be cut down to the ground in March\ this, 

 will fend the force of their fap to the root, and make it 

 eftablifti itfelf, fo as to fend up a healthy flicot. 



By planting thefe trees moderately thick, they grow 

 better than when the diftance is greater, as one fhclters 

 another, and bids defiance to all bad weather. 'Tis cer- 

 tain many plants out-grow another, and that tlicir Iprcad- 

 ing boughs may deftroy the weaker; but the removal of 

 this evil you have in your power by thinning them. I 

 would therefore never plant Acorns, at a greater diftance 

 than four feet plant from plant, as you always have it in 

 your power to give them at any time fuch a diftance as 

 their encreafe of grov.th may require. 



If you defign to plant in t!ic wood way, where cattle 

 do not feed, the grafs will twift about them, and prove 

 of bad confequcnce. Therefore, the year bt.ltMe you 

 plant your Acorns, dig pits two feet fquarc, ard two feel 

 and an half deep, laying up the foil to the fummcr's fun 

 and the wintcr'i, cold, to mould. XnOihbrr ov Novrm- 



