38 



TREATISE o If 



-whence the whole flrength and juices of the root will be exerted 

 in the fupport of f^is fingle ilioot. 



Another method of railing thefe trees, with equal fliccefs, 

 is, fowing the acorns on beds, in rows, feven or eight inches a- 

 funder, and two or three inches in the row, covering them the 

 ufual depth, and letting them remain only one year. 



From thefe beds remove them the following fpring, and ha- 

 ving fliortened their top-roots, lay them in lines, cut down per- 

 pendicular with the fpade, eighteen inches afunder, and eight or 

 nine inches in the line, where they may continue two years.. 



From therice remove them, feparating, as has been faid, the 

 ftraight from the crooked, and plant them in different quarters, 

 in rows, two feet and a half afander, and one foot diftance in 

 the row ; the ftraight plants to continue here three years, and 

 the crooked, if they have grown freely, to be cut over in one, but 

 if otherways, not till two years j and here they fliould remain 

 three years longer. 



Many writers of reputation diredl fowiiig the acorns, as foon 

 as thoroughly dry, in Odober or November, the principle of 

 growth being fo fcrong in them, that they are apt to flioot foon 

 after, tho' not in the ground, and with that flioot will decay. This, 

 they fay, is the order of nature, and I readily admit it is fo ; nor 

 do I condemn their practice : But I have found, from innumerable 

 inftances, the method before direded will produce better-rooted 

 and cleaner plants ^ and how indeed can it be otherways ? for, 

 muft not the ground, which, as it ought, we muft fuppofe has 

 been well trenched or dug the preceding autumn, mellowed and 



