NURSERY AND PLANTING. 



100 



and the ground properly prepared for them, plants from eitlier 

 sowing may be expected to prosper equally well. It is im- 

 portant that the ground be sufficiently prepared for the recep- 

 tion of the seeds, for if it be not done now, it cannot be done 

 afterwards. For this purpose, it should be deeply and finely 

 dug, and rendered fine and smooth by the use of the rake, 

 and if the ground be not in a tolerably rich condition, we 

 would recommend a moderate supply of well-rotted manure. 



The acorns may either be sown in beds or drills, but the 

 latter is by far the better way where the intention is to allow 

 the seedhngs to stand more than one season before transplant- 

 ing, that is, in tlie seed-bed. They should be equally distri- 

 buted either in the drill or on the bed, at about the distance 

 of half an inch apart from each other, or rather more, and 

 covered to the depth of two inches. 



Afler sowing, a watchful eye must be kept on the beds or 

 drills, to guard them from the attacks of mice or rats, either of 

 which would be equally destructive to them before they begin to 

 vegetate. Traps should be thickly set over the ground, and 

 other means adopted to keep under such destructive enemies. 



The general routine of imrsery culture, as to transplanting 

 into nursery-lines, beds, &c., is the same as has been detailed 

 for other forest-trees already noticed ; any reference, therefore, 

 at present, to that part of their management, may be deemed 

 superfluous. 



A tree of so much national importance as the oak, deserves 

 our greatest care in rearing and finally planting out. Many 

 plant at random, and never think that dillerent si)ecies of 

 timber-trees require difierent soils to bring them to the greatest 

 degree of perfection, but such is the case; and where adapt- 

 ing the trees to the soil and situation has been attended to, 

 the result has been highly satisfactory ; whereas, a total neg- 

 lect to such arrangements has been attended with disa}>point- 

 ments. Upon this subject Sang offers the following rational 

 observations, which, we may add, are in accordance with our 

 own: — We are clearly of opinion," says he, that the best 

 method is to plant each sort in distinct masses or groups, pro- 

 vided the situation and quality of the soil be properly kept in 

 view. There has hitherto been too much random work carried 



