OAK. 



37 



elm as being the most pernicious to the crops, and 

 the beech as being of little or no value grown in 

 hedge-row. In clays, most kinds of trees, particu- 

 larly those whose roots spread superficially, are more 

 detrimental to the crop around than in the more friable 

 earths, o^\ing to the roots in clays foraging at less 

 depth, and to the clay being a worse conductor of 

 moisture than other earths. The disadvantages at- 

 tending the planting of hedge - row with oaks are, that 

 their removal is not in general so successfid as that 

 of other trees, especially to this exposed dry situa- 

 tion, and that the progress of the plant, for a num- 

 ber of years, is but slow ; and thus for a longer time 

 liable to injury from cattle. Fair success may, how- 

 ever, be commanded, by previously preparing the 

 roots, should the plants be of good size ; tmnsplant- 

 ing them when the ground is neither too moist nor 

 too dry, and in autumn, as soon as the leaves have 

 dropped or become brown, particularly in dry ground; 

 perfonning the operation with the utmost care not 

 to fracture the roots, and to retain a considerable 

 ball ; opening pits of considerable size for their re- 

 ception, much deeper than the roots, and should a 

 little water lurk in the bottom of the pit, it will be 

 highly beneficial, provided none stagnate so high as 

 the roots ; firming the earth well around the roots 



