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when these should be buried between their roots, but not too close to the trees, which might be in¬ 
jurious to their young fibres. 
After having remained three or four years in the nursery, they will be fit for transplanting, either 
in rows to grow for timber, or in quarters for wilderness plantations, avenues, clumps, or the orchard; 
but if you intend them for timber, it is by much the better method to sow them in furrows, as is 
practised for Oaks, &c. and let them remain unremoved; for these trees are apt to have a down¬ 
right tap-root, which, being hurt by transplanting, is often a check to their upright growth, and 
causes them to shoot out into lateral branches, as is the case with the Oak, Walnut, See. 
But where the fruit of them is more sought after, then it is certainly the better way to transplant 
them; for as transplanting is a check to the luxuriant growth of trees, so it is a promoter of their 
fructification, as may be evinced by observing low shrubby Oaks, Walnuts, &c. which generally 
have a greater plenty of fruit than any of the larger and more vigorous trees; and the fruit of such 
trees is much superior in taste, though the seeds of vigorous trees are vastly preferable for planta¬ 
tions of timber; for it is a constant observation, that, by saving seeds from dwarf trees or plants, 
from time to time, they may be rendered much lower in their growth than is their natural size; but. 
where the fruit is most desired, then they should be taken from such trees as produce the largest 
and sweetest nuts, which are commonly found upon such trees as spread the most, and have hori¬ 
zontal roots; for the weaker trees being less capable to furnish a supply of nourishment, and having 
a greater quantity of fruit upon them, and to which this must be distributed, together with their 
roots lying near the surface of the ground, by which means the juices are better prepared by sun, 
air, &c. before it enters their vessels, it is certain their juices are better digested, and their fruits 
better maturated, than those can possibly be which grow upon strong vigorous trees, which have 
long tap-roots running several feet deep into the earth, and consequently take in vast quantities of 
crude unprepared juice, which is buoyed up to the extreme parts of the tree; and these seldom 
having many lateral branches to digest and prepare their juice, by perspiring and throwing off the 
crude part before it enters the fruits. 
And this, I dare say, universally holds good in all sorts of fruit trees, and is often the occasion 
of the good and bad qualities of the same sorts of fruits growing on the same soil. 
Species 2 . The nuts of the dwarf Virginian Chesnut should be put up in sand, in America, as 
soon as they are ripe, and sent out immediately, otherwise they lose their vegetating quality. When 
the nuts arrive, they should be put into the ground as soon as possible, and if the winter should 
prove severe, cover the ground with leaves, tan or peas-haulm, to prevent the frost from penetrating 
to the nuts. 
Species 3 . The Beech-tree is propagated by sowing the mast, the season for which is any time 
from October to February; only observing to secure the seeds from vermin when early sowed: if 
this be carefully done, the sooner they are sown the better, after they are full ripe. Since Beech- 
mast, however, keeps very well, and it is greatly relished by Field-mice and other vermin, many 
planters prefer spring-sowing; in which case the seeds should be spread on a mat in an airy place, 
for a few days, to dry, and then put up in bags. 
* 
A small spot of ground will be sufficient for raising a great number of these trees from seed. They 
must be kept clean from weeds; and if they come up very thick, drawing the strongest the autumn 1 
following: and thus if a seed-bed be husbanded carefully, it will afford a three years' draught of 
young plants, which should be planted in a nursery; and, if designed for timber trees, at three feet 
distance row from row, and eighteen inches asunder in the rows. But if they are designed for 
hedges, two feet row from row, and one foot in the rows will be sufficient. In this nursery they 
may remain two or three years; observing to clear them from weeds, and to dig up the ground 
