228 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF OAK. 



trees are, as far as regards planting oaks among 

 them, sufficiently thin. This may be laid down as 

 a rule which has no exception. In making these 

 patches among furze or broom, no more of either 

 should be cut than is absolutely necessary to make 

 room for working the spade. 



The patches being prepared, the next labour will 

 be to plant the acorns. Before proceeding to this, 

 get some lime in readiness, shake it thoroughly with 

 water, in the same manner as is customary when it 

 is to be used for agricultural purposes, and spread as 

 much of it as can be lifted on a common spade upon 

 each patch. Then dig it in, neatly levelling the 

 ground. As soon as a patch is thus prepared, plant 

 in it five acorns, one as nearly as possible in the 

 centre, and the other fom* forming a square of a foot 

 each side around it, and cover them an inch deep 

 with earth. Proceed thus till the whole be planted. 

 To avoid deception from bad acorns, put them in 

 small quantities, before they are used, into a tub of 

 water. All of them that are sound \vill sink to the 

 bottom, the others will swim on the surface, and are 

 to be skimmed off and rejected. I recommend five 

 to be put into each patch, because that is the most 

 that will find room for two years without being too 

 much crowded ; for though one plant only will be 



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