464 SPRING VEGETATION. [April 



follow the shape of the teeth. If a tooth is bad shape it keeps 

 that shape, only it gets " more so." The teeth get hig on one side 

 and small on the other. For a space they are huddled, then the 

 next two inches seems to have lost a tooth. One side will be filed 

 much more fleaming than the other side. No matter what saw it 

 is, circular and band saws are not excepted, and all have to stand 

 the same racket. Good files are few, and so are good workmen. It 

 is with a saw as it is with everything else ; to be a good filer you 

 must exercise care, and much care too. Good filers seem to take to 

 it naturally. They don't know wlien they learned to file a saw, it 

 seems as if they always knew how. Watch them closely and you 

 will see that they are just as careful with the file as they are at the 

 bench. They liave their pet shape for the teeth of different saws, 

 and they keep them that shape. They never "just touch up " a saw 

 by going over it in a hurry and dubbing off tlie points of the teeth ; 

 when they file a saw it is filed right. When they get a tooth to a 

 point they stop, they don't give another stroke with the file and take 

 the point off, or round over the end of the tooth. When they get 

 done the saw is straight. Sight across points of the teeth and you 

 can see them all. Now lay tlie saw flat upon a smooth board, take 

 an oil stone and draw it tlie whole length of the saw upon the sides 

 of the teeth ; this will take oft' the feather-edge or burr from each 

 tooth, and it then makes the saw cut nice and smooth. Be sure to 

 rub the stone toward the handle ; if rubbed the other way, it is apt 

 to bend the burr over without removing it. — Chicago Lumhervian. 



SPRING VEGETATION. 



ME. LINDSAY, of the Eoyal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 

 writes : — Vegetation is making slow jjrogress. Eibes, 

 Thorns, Lilacs, Eoses, and other deciduous trees and shrubs are late 

 in developing leaf and flower buds, being from tliree weeks to a 

 month behind the date when they did so last season. The buds, 

 however, are remarkably strong and vigorous, and with more genial 

 weather will make rapid progress. The Hazel, Alder, Ehododendron 

 Atrovirens, and Daphne ]\Iezereum came into flower and were well 

 covered with bloom during the month. Early flowering hybrid 

 Ehododendrons are well set with flower buds, and along with most 

 other hardy jilants which are used for forcing purposes, are much 

 more readily induced to flower when put into heat than is usual, 

 mainly owing to their having been so well ripened during last year's 

 fine dry summer. Spring flowers are also late in coming into 

 bloom, but i^romise to be very fine ere long ; those already flowered 

 are strong and richly coloured. 



