OF FOREST-TREES. 39 



the full south, and well protected from the north and west, let it be CHAP. II. 

 broken up the winter before you sow, to mellow it ; especially if it be a ' '^"i^-' 

 clay, and then the furrow should be made deeper, or so at least as you 

 would prepare it for wheat : Or you may trench it with the spade, by 

 which means it will the easier be cleansed of whatsoever may obstruct 

 the putting forth, and insinuating of the tender roots. 



Qui serere ingenuum volet agrum. 

 Liberal arva prius fruticibus ; 



Falce ruboSj filicemque resecat. boeth. lib. iii. Met. 1. 



He that for wood his field would sow. 

 Must clear it of the shrubs that grow ; 

 Cut brambles up, and the fern mow. 



Having given it a second stirring, immediately before you sow, cast 

 and dispose it into rills, or small narrow trenches, of four or five inches 

 deep, and in even lines, at two feet interval, for the more commodious 

 runcation, hawing, and dressing the trees : Into these furrows, about 

 the new or increasing moon, throw your Oak, Beech, Ash, Nuts, all the 

 glandiferous seeds, mast and key-bearing kinds, so as they lie not too ' 

 thick, and then cover them very well with a rake, or fine-toothed harrow, 

 as they do for peas : Or, to be more accurate, you may set them as they 

 do beans, especially the Nuts and Acorns, and every species by 

 themselves, for the Roboraria, Glandaria, Ulmaria, &c. which is the 

 better way " : This is to be done at the latter end of October, for the 

 autumnal sowing, and in the lighter ground about February, for the 



" The most natural, direct, and general way of raising trees and plants is from seeds. 

 In order to this, proper soils must be prepared for them, as suitable as possible to their 

 respective natures ; and when the ground is ready, and well furnished with the embryo 

 plants, it is properly and significantly called the Seminary. Its situation should be as 

 near the nursery as possible ; and as it is of the utmost consequence to preserve the young 

 plants from being cropped by hares in the winter, the ground should be fenced round 

 with pales of a sufficient height. In the beginning of winter let the land be trenched 

 about two spits deep, working the sward to the bottom ; and during the spring, the 

 surface should be carefully kept clear from weeds. About Midsummer, unless the soil be 

 very rich, let some rotten dung be spread over the surface, after which it should again be 

 trenched. By this second operation the rotten sward will be brought to the top, and the 

 soil will put on a mellow appearance. From Midsummer to September, the ground should 

 be kept clear of weeds ; and just before the seeds are committed to it, it should again be 



