OF FOREST-TREES. 



41 



Genista Spinosa, or Furze, they will come up without any damage, and cHAP. II. 

 for a while prove a sufficient fence, and will be killed by the shade of ^'^V^ 

 the young Oaklings, before they become able to do them any prejudice. 



One rule I must not omit, that you cast no seeds into the earth whilst 

 it either actually rains, or that it be over sobbed, till moderately dry. 



The Seminary being now ready, it follows that the planters should be instructed in the 

 manner of sowing and raising the seeds of Forest-trees ; and as Bradley, Miller, Hanbury, 

 Weston, and Mawe, have published useful directions upon this head, I flatter myself that 

 I shall be thought right in transcribing their authorities for the manner of raising the 

 following trees from seed. 



OAK. 



The Oak, the pride and glory of the Forest, is a native of this country, and suits 

 itself to all sorts of soils. It is of slow growth ; but its cultivation is of the utmost 

 consequence to this nation. In order to raise this tree, let the acorns be procured from 

 straight thriving trees, when they are full ripe and begin to fall. In February or March, 

 (or in October, if the autumnal sowing be more agreeable,) prepare the beds four feet wide ; 

 rake the earth out into the alleys two inches deep, and draw lines across the bed at four 

 inches asunder with a sharp-pointed stick ; on these lines lay the acorns at about two 

 inches distance from each other ; when the bed is finished, press the seeds gently down 

 with the back of the spade to keep them in their places, then spread the earth over them 

 two niches thick, and rake the beds even ; by their being planted in rows four inches 

 asunder, a two-inch hoe can pass betwixt the rows without hurting the plants, by which 

 the weeds are more easily destroyed, and the stirring the earth so much will cause the 

 plants to grow the more, which advantage is lost if they are sown broadcast. It will be 

 necessary to place some traps in the alleys to catch the mice, particularly after autumnal 

 sowing ; the crows are also very fond of acorns ; therefore it will be proper to guard 

 against these enemies, or all your labour will be lost. For two years the plants may 

 remain in the seed-bed, with only the care of weeding them constantly in summer, and 

 spreading a little fresh earth and ashes among them against the winter. They must then be 

 transplanted, in March or October, either where they are to remain, or else into the nursery : 

 if into the nursery, it must be in rows two feet and a half asunder, and each plant at 

 eighteen inches distance, where they must be constantly hoed, and the ground dug 

 between them before winter, till they are planted out for timber. 



ELM. 



The Wych Elm is the only one that ripens its seeds well in this country. The seed 

 must be gathered the beginning of June, laid in a dry place for a few days, and then it 

 will be fit to sow. After having formed the beds four feet wide, rake out the earth, 

 about two inches deep, and sift it into the beds again, except leaving about half an inch 

 of it to cover the seeds ; rake it level again, and flat it a little with the back of the spade, 

 Volume I. N 



