1885.] FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. 237 



foREST Work for the Month. 



EXGLAND. 



ri"^HE mild westerly breezes generally lose their force about this 

 JL time, and are replaced by easterly or northerly currents, that 

 bring upon their wings some of the rigours of those icy regions from 

 which they come. The rainfall is subject to much variation, and 

 evaporation is at its minimum, of about half an inch. 



Orchard. — Expedite the planting of fruit trees whenever the 

 weather is suitable, and continue the pruning of orchard trees, and 

 also gooseberry and currant bushes. Draw the earth awaj' from the 

 stems of tlie gooseberry and currant bushes, and bury it between the 

 lows, from where fresh soil may be taken to replace that scraped 

 awa)', so as in some measure to counteract the production of 

 caterpillars. 



Woods and Plantations. — During open weather continue 

 planting, but hasten to the termination of this work as speedily as 

 possible. Where ground game is abundant, it is sometimes 

 expedient to ■ delay planting until next month, or until the pro- 

 bability of hard or severe weather has passed ; as during snow, or 

 hoar frosts, the ground game are very apt to feast upon the young 

 plants. During frosty weather, when planting cannot be carried on, 

 proceed with thinning and pruning in the plantations ; and in 

 cutting underwood, and shredding coppice woods ; and pruning the 

 stocks left on the coppice stools. While pruning in the plantations, 

 avoid cutting live branches from firs of all kinds. Dead branches 

 should be closely and neatly cut off. Those on the larch are best 

 removed by a, smart stroke of some blunt instrument, which generally 

 snaps off the branch within the surface of the bark ; and nature soon 

 obliterates the wound, without detriment to the timber. Continue 

 felling timber for sale, or for the purposes of the estate, and 

 speedily clear up all debris from the fallen trees. 



Eences and Ditches. — Eepair fences of every kind. Prune, 

 dress, lay, and make hedges ; clean out ditches and conduits ; and 

 keep the mouths of agricultural drains open, and the tracks from 

 tliem clear. 



Nursery. — In open weather sow those seeds that were kept in 

 pits during the summer ; also sow acorns and chestnuts, and insert 

 cuttings of deciduous plants ; collect cones of the larch and other 

 coniferte, and store away dry until the season for sowing. As all 

 cones should be thoroughly dry, before they are put up in any 



