THE OAK. 265 
seeds are all hid. In this rough state the covering should 
remain until April, when in dry weather it should be raked 
and equalized on the surface of the beds. By this process 
the covering is exposed to the pulverizing influence of the 
frost, the seeds of weeds will have vegetated, and will be 
readily destroyed by the operation of the rake ; and early in 
May the oaks will rise through the newly-disturbed and con- 
sequently soft surface. At this period they are very tender, 
and in North Britain are sometimes injured by late frosts. 
Therefore a slight covering of leaves, litter, twigs of ever- 
greens, or of any light open substance, continued to the end 
of May, is often found to be a useful protection. No further 
care is needful, but that of keeping the beds free of weeds 
throughout the season. The seedling plants are sometimes 
removed into nursery lines at the age of one year, but more 
frequently when two years old. This operation may be per- 
formed any time in open weather during winter or spring. In 
removing the plants from the seed-beds, they should be care- 
fully loosened, so that their lateral fibres may not be injured. 
The extremities of their tap-roots should be cut off. 
They should be transplanted into nursery lines, sixteen or 
eighteen inches apart, and the plants about six inches asunder. 
After being two years in lines they are generally from two 
to three feet high, and fit for being planted into the forest. 
If plants are required of a larger size for planting, they 
should be again transplanted into a greater space, where they 
may remain for two or three years, according to their pro- 
gress. Such plants are commonly fit for hedgerows, or for 
situations where smaller plants are subject to injury by vermin. 
When the oak remains more than two years without being 
transplanted, it begins to strike deep into the soil, and to lose 
that bushiness of root which frequent transplanting is so 
useful in producing. Therefore, plants which remain four or 
five years in lines without being disturbed, may appear 
vigorous and well-grown, yet, for want of fibrous roots, they 
will be found of little use in forest planting. The oak affects 
a strong deep soil, elevated considerably above stagnant water ; 
