ON PLANTING WITH OAKS. 157 
When, therefore, a young tree is removed at once from the spot 
on which it grew, to that on which it is to stand, the end of 
the tap-root is almost necessarily broken off or much injured, 
always much retarding,—sometimes fatally,—the progress of 
the young tree. To obviate this evil, the French nurserymen 
make the acorn or other seed germinate in moist earth or saw- 
dust, and, before planting it, pinch off the end of the root. This 
causes the plant immediately to throw out side fibres. For the 
same purpose, it is the practice in England either to transplant 
the oak after one or two years’ growth, removing at the time a 
part of the tap-root, or to cut it off without removing, by insert- 
ing a spade, obliquely, six or eight inches beneath the surface. 
In either case, the plant has several roots to depend upon, in 
place of its single original tap-root. In some cases, after it has 
grown in the place where it is to remain, for two or three years, 
it is cut down to the ground; it will then throw up vigorous 
shoots, and send down perpendicular roots. All but the most 
promising of the shoots may be carefully removed. This has 
been tried with marked success by Morrill Allen, of Pembroke, 
who has paid much attention to the cultivation of the oak. 
The foreign oaks which seem most worthy of cultivation in 
this State, are the two native oaks of England. Both these 
have been introduced, and are growing in various situations 
in the neighborhood of Boston. They are perfectly adapted 
to our climate, and flourish as well and grow as rapidly, and 
mature their abundant acorns as surely, as any of our own 
oaks, except the red. When young, they are extremely beau- 
tiful and ornamental, and, when full grown, they are among 
the most magnificent trees known. The sessile-fruited oak, 
(Quercus sessilifiora,) is considered less valuable; the stalk- 
fruited (Quercus pedunculata,) being now almost universally 
preferred as a far superior tree. As objects of beauty, and for 
their value in the art of ornamental culture, as well as for use, 
no foreign trees present so strong claims to our attention. 
The oaks are better fitted than almost any other trees, to 
stand along the borders of cultivated fields; as, where the soil 
is deep enough to allow it, they send their roots to a consider- 
able depth, and thus disturb but slightly the growth of grass and 
other herbaceous plants and low shrubs. 
