232 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF OAK. 



They are to take it from the tub or box in spade- 

 fulls, and spread it carefully on the patches. If the 

 cart loads can be emptied in situations tolerably con- 

 venient, two workmen will lime 3000 patches, or as 

 many as six acres contain, in a day ; or if they dig 

 in the lime as it is laid on, they will prepare 1000, 

 or as many as are contained in two acres, for the re- 

 ception of the acorns in the same time. 



When the acorns are planted, they will give no 

 more trouble for two years. At the end of that pe- 

 riod, it is likely that in most of the patches, after 

 all accidents, more than a single plant will remain. 

 It will, therefore, be necessary to go over them, tak- 

 ing away all the supernumeraries. If there be a plant 

 from the acorn that was planted in the centre, it 

 ought to be left, if equally thriving with the rest ; 

 but it is not to be preferred if any of the others are 

 bigger or more healthy. The utmost care must be 

 taken, that the plant which is spared have not its 

 roots injured, or in the least degree slackened byre- 

 moving its companions. The best method of exe- 

 cuting the work, therefore, will be by means of a 

 knife, made for the purpose, with a long haft. The 

 blade of this instrument is to be thrust down close 

 by the side of the plants to be removed, and their 

 roots cut two or three inches below the surface of 



