Thoreau writes in his journal:
Under the two white oaks by the second wall southeast of my house, on the east side the wall, I am surprised to find a great many sound acorns still, though every one is sprouted . . .
It is true these two trees are exceptions and I do not find sound ones nearly as numerous under others . . . It will he worth the while to see how many of these sprouted acorns are left and are sound in the spring . . .