76 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. are generally Pollards, and such as are sheltered in warm corners and 

 •"^"■v^^ hedge-rows. To speak then j9ar/zczi/«r///, of Oaks, and ^e?zcra//?/ of all 

 other trees of the same kind, by some infallible characters, notice should 

 be taken of the manner of their spreading, stature, and growth, shape and 

 size of the acorn, whether single or in clusters, the length or shortness 

 of the stalks, roundness of the cup, breadth, narrowness, shape and in- 



believe that a wood should be raised by plants taken from a nursery. As each of these 

 methods has its advantages, I shall therefore endeavour to show the best mode of proceed- 

 ing in raising an Oak wood both ways, that every one may choose that which he likes 

 the best. 



And, first, to raise a wood from acorns sown in the Seminary. 



Let a proper spot in the seminary be prepared against the time the seeds are ripe. The 

 soil should be loamy, fresh, and in good heart ; and should be prepared by digging it Avell, 

 breaking all clods, and clearing it of weeds, roots, large stones, &c. The acorns should 

 be gathered from the straightest, most thriving, and beautiful trees ; and if they remain 

 until they fall off of themselves, they will succeed the better. 



Having a sufficient quantity of well-ripened acorns for your purpose, proceed to prepare 

 your beds in the ground that is just got ready for their reception. Mark out the beds with 

 a line, four feet broad, and let there be an alley between each bed two feet wide ; rake 

 the earth out of the bed into the spaces designed for the alley, until the bed be sunk about 

 two inches deep ; then sow your acorns in the bed, about three inches asunder, and gently 

 press them down with the spade, or, if more agreeable, they may be set in rows, the lines 

 for that purpose being marked out with a sharp-pointed stick. Throw the earth, that has 

 been raked into the alleys, over the acorns, and, after having dressed up the bed, and 

 gently pressed it down with the back of the spade, proceed to the next bed, and so on 

 until the whole be finished. This work is best performed in February, though some 

 prefer the autumnal months. 



In about six weeks the plants will appear above ground ; and in these beds they may 

 remain two years, without any further trouble or care, than keeping them clean from weeds, 

 and now and then refreshing them with water in very dry seasons. When the trees are 

 two years old, they will be of a proper size for planting out. 



Let us now see in what manner we are to prepare the ground for their reception. The 

 best way is by trenching, or double digging, as deep as the soil will admit of: but as 

 this is a very expensive proceedings and consequently can only be practised upon a small 

 scale, I shall reconlmend another good method of preparing the ground. This is to be 

 done by proper ploughing ; and, if agreeable, the year before the land is planted, it may 

 bear a crop of oats, rape, or turnips. By this means the sward will be effectually de- 

 stroyed. After the crop is off, let the ground be trench-ploughed, and then harrowed with 

 heavy harrows to break the clods : about the end of October let it be again ploughed cross- 

 ways, and harrowed as before. This is the season for planting the sets ; for the ground 



