NEW METHOD OF HEARING OAK. 24.^ 



applied to promote its early growth, but that care 

 should be taken to provide it with shelter from the 

 very first, to protect it, when young, from the rigour 

 of the winds and frosts. The experiments I have 

 mentioned w^re all performed in fir plantations of a 

 considerable age, so that they furnish no data by 

 which to judge of the comparative progress of oaks, 

 in and out of shelter. At the time of making 

 them, I had no opportunity of trying similar ones 

 in open ground ; nor did I deem this of much con- 

 sequence, as observation had, long before, convinced 

 me, that shelter has a very powerful effect in pro- 

 moting the growth of wood of every kind ; and that 

 nothing is more prejudicial to the growth of trees 

 in general than much exposure. With regard to the 

 oak, in particular, the fact, that its young shoots are 

 extremely apt to be injured by spring and autum- 

 nal frosts and mildews, is sufficient of itself to justify 

 the assertion, that, to afford this tree shelter when 

 young, is a powerful means of accelerating its pro- 

 gress. Lest, however, any of my readers should re- 

 quire some specific illustration of the point, I shall 

 adduce an example, which fell under my notice se- 

 veral years ago, and which has all the force of an 

 experiment purposely made. Nine or ten years be- 

 fore the period to which I allude, a gentleman, 



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