1885.] FOHEST WORK FOR THE MONTH. 469 



foREST Work for the Month. 



EXaiANI). 



THE generally genial weather of this mouth is sometimes subject 

 to sudden aud uncertain changes, but its main character is 

 mildness, with occasional sharp nips of frost at night. The average 

 rainfall is about 1^ inches, and the evaporation about 2|- inches. 



Absence from home prevents me comparing the actual rainfalls of 

 this month with those of last year. 



Orchard. — Where recently-planted fruit trees have been loosened 

 by the wind, have the surface surrounding them lightly stirred, and 

 work the loosened soil close to the stems. In pruning, do not 

 .cut off any large branches at this late season, except from some 

 necessity apart from any benefit to the tree ; and then paint the 

 wound over quickly with coal tar. 



Fences. — The season is now late for planting live fences ; but 

 where this work has still to be done, great care is necessary to attain 

 success, and copious waterings may be necessary if the weather is 

 dry. Hoe and clean the bottoms of young hedges, continuing this 

 work as often as necessary during the summer. By preventing the 

 growth of weeds, air circulates more freely around the hedge plants, 

 and frequent stirring of the soil accelerates their growth. 



Woods. — I presume that no forest planting has been delayed 

 until this month. Examine all plantings made during the winter, 

 and set up firmly all swayed or loosened plants ; on exposed places 

 it may be necessary to form small mounds of earth around the stems 

 of tall plants, to support them in maintaining an erect position. 



Eemove loose and broken branches from trees in woods and 

 plantations, and clear off all brushwood from roads and rides, and 

 from amongst the last cuttings in coppice woods, finish grafting 

 forest trees, and examine and repair defects in the clay of previous 

 graftings. Earth up dwarf grafts, leaving the scion only above 

 ground. Trim up evergreens, and dress ivy on walls. 



Nursery. — Finish transplanting, and sow seeds of all sorts of 

 conifer£e. Protect the seed-beds from birds by some sort of covering. 

 If nets are used for this, the seeds require a heavier covering of 

 earth than when the protective coverings are branches, rushes, ferns, 

 or such like. Weed seed-beds, and loosen soil l^etween the lines ; 

 keep down weeds by hoe, spade, and rake. Protect young stock by 



