4 CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS—FEBRUARY. 
Oaks, when two years transplanted in nursery lines, are 
generally removed to the forest; and although they would 
improve very much in appearance during the third year in 
nursery lines, yet at this period they run so much to tap- 
roots, that on being afterwards transplanted they are apt to 
suffer from the operation, become stunted, and frequently 
require to be cut down. It will therefore be found of great 
benefit to the plants, when they are of a sufficient size for 
forest planting, to loose and lift them from the nursery 
lines, and prune off with a strong knife all straggling root 
fibres, without shaking the earth from the roots, replac- 
ing them immediately into the same ground, to remain for 
another season before inserting them in the forest. This 
operation of disturbing oaks in the nursery is speedily per- 
formed by casting out an opening a stamp deep alongside 
the outside line, so that after lifting and pruning the roots, 
the plants are immediately inserted into the adjacent opening 
and a stamp of earth turned over on their roots, thus form- 
ing an opening for the next line, and so on, until the whole 
lot of plants is replaced. It is advisable during this opera- 
tion to throw out all plants that are much under the ordinary 
size, as such would continue inferior, and are of no value. In 
thus removing the plants it is not necessary, as in the ordi- 
nary mode of transplanting, to tramp or firm the plants with 
the foot, as they are removed with a considerable quantity of 
earth adhering to their fibres. It is found that the increase 
of small fibres becomes more abundant in loose than in firm 
ground. It is of no consequence for the plants to occupy a 
broader line, or not to stand up with such exactness as for- 
merly. Plants thus disturbed will not grow much during the 
ensuing summer; but on removing such into the forest in the 
following year, their roots will be found compact and bushy, 
and will require no pruning. Their success compared with 
that of plants which have not undergone this operation will 
be very apparent. 
The foregoing method of preparing oaks for going out is 
well adapted for two-years transplanted beech, whether they 
