1885.] FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. 389 



foREST Work for the Month. 



ENGLAND. 



THIS, the advent of spring, often approaches us in a boisterous 

 manner, and not unfrequently maintains its stormy character 

 throughout. Should the air currents approach us from the nortli 

 and east, they wUl be keen, dry, and strongly evaporative; but if 

 from the opposite quarter, we may expect mildness, with probably 

 an overplus of moisture. 



The average rainfall of this month is about 1-33 inches. Last 

 year the rainfall registers at the under-mentioned stations were as 

 follows : — 



At Greenwich, rain fell on 11 days, to a depth of 1'36 inch. 

 „ Edinburgh, „ 14 „ 1-80 „ 



„ Clifton, „ 15 „ 2-69 „ 



„ Glasgow, „ 22 „ 2-37 „ 



This shows a preponderance of moisture along the west side of 

 the country. 



Okciiakd. — All fruit-tree planting should be finished by the 

 beginning of this month, and pruning should be confined to small 

 branches and shoots. Wliere grafting is a necessity, begin with 

 plums, and then follow with cherries, pears, and apples. 



Fences. — Hedge planting should be finished early. From the 

 mUdness of the winter, at least in the south of England, we may 

 expect an early appearance of vitality in vegetation, upon the 

 approach of which thorn planting should cease for a season. 



Newly-planted thorn or other hedges should be protected from 

 stock for a few years, by some sort of fence, until the plants become 

 sufficiently strong to be a fence themselves. A very economical 

 fence may be constructed with wire strained upon wooden posts, 

 on one or both sides of the hedge, as necessity demands. If the 

 top wire is barbed, the fence will be most effective, and the under 

 wires may be of a liglit gauge, with one strong wire at the height at 

 which sheep would rub themselves. 



Finish planting and laying old hedges, and dig under and clean 

 young hedges. 



Planting in the forest should be completed by the beginning of 

 this month. If it he continued beyond the middle, and dry weather 

 should set in, the probability is that the operations will prove 

 partially abortive. 



