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SECTION V. 



DIRECTIONS FOR REARING SUCCESSION CROPS OF 

 OAK, AND FOR THE RECOVERY OF YOUNG OAKS 

 IN A SICKLY OR UNTHRIVING CONDITION. 



If five hundred oaks are planted in an acre, in 

 the manner which has been recommended, they will 

 require to be thinned after the nurses are cut down ; 

 for in a tolerably favourable soil, not more than one 

 hundred will have room to come to full maturity in 

 this extent of ground. General directions for thin- 

 ning are given at another place ; but the importance 

 of the oak, as well as certain traits in its nature pe- 

 culiar to itself, will require a few remarks on the 

 process in relation to it individually. Before pro- 

 ceeding to these, however, it may be as well to an- 

 ticipate an objection which might here be put by 

 the reader in some such form as the following: 



Since, if we plant five hundred oaks in an acre, 

 they will afterwards require to be thinned, till only 

 one hundred are left, would it not be better to plant 

 only the last-mentioned quantity, and thus save a 

 considerable share both of trouble and expense?" 



