Z THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



tliem in a damp cellar or outhouse, covered over with 

 ferns, old hay, or straw. They must be sown not later 

 than February under any circumstances. The seedlings 

 should remain three years in the seed-bed, and then 

 transplanted to where they are to remain. It is not 

 often convenient, but when it is, in order to get good 

 old hearty Oak timber, the acorns should be sown where 

 they are to remain for timber ; for the Oak always 

 makes a taproot much in advance of the top growth. 

 This taproot is the secret of getting large and sound 

 old timber ; when an Oak-tree cannot maintain this 

 chief organ, it seldom produces such timber. This was 

 the reason why the old timber referred to in the Intro- 

 duction was unsound at heart. This large quantity of 

 Oak timber grew chiefly on a rocky subsoil, which pre- 

 vented the majority of the trees forming that principal 

 organ — the taproot. We find that self-sown Oak-trees 

 produce the largest as well as the soundest timber. 



In transplanting young Oaks for timber, care should 

 be taken to maintain as much of the taproot as possible. 

 This is contrary to the usual practice, which consists 

 of cutting as much of it off as possible ; but I have 

 made my observations in this matter, and can confirm 

 what I have said to be a fact. 



The common Oak (Qucrcus pcdimculata) requires a 

 moist, stiff, strong clay to flourish in, and to attain to a 

 healthy old age. The chief reason why some Oaks 

 throw up suckers is because they cannot form a tap- 

 root — the subsoil does not suit them. Some kinds must 

 be grafted to multiply them and to keep the sort true. 



The Qucrcus corn's is used for stocks for most of the 

 kinds requiring grafting. The grafting should be done 

 during March and April. The graft should be put on 

 the stock close to the ground, and the stock may be 

 smaller or larger than the graft. Common whip- 

 grafting, as adopted for pears and apples, may be the 

 method, or, if the stock is much larger than the graft, 

 rind- grafting may be employed ; but it must be borne 

 in mind that the bark of the stock must readily leave 

 the wood (see page 149). Tie the graft in, and use 



