470 FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. [April 



twigs of some kind ii-oiu sudden frosts, or rather to shade them from 

 the sunshine that folhjws the frosts. 



Get ready for oak-peeliug, and push on that work wherever the 

 bark will rip. Tanners say the early stripped bark contains more 

 tannin than tliat removed near the end of the season. 



A. Paterson. 



Paultoxs, Romsey, Hants. 



SCOTLAND. 



THE past month, generall}^ proved favourable for planting 

 operations. The planting of hardwoods and. other deciduous 

 trees and shrubs should have been completed. Evergreen plants 

 may still be transplanted. Those of any size should have as much 

 earth adhering to their roots as possible, and if dry weather they 

 .should be well watered when put in their new position. Notch 

 planting on moorland may safely be carried on all the montli. Cave 

 will, however, be necessary, in a special degree, to protect the roots . 

 from drying winds. On moist ground, planting may be more 

 satisfactorily performed, and with better results, than at an earlier 

 period of the season. 



Nursery work should now be pressed forward, and transplanting 

 finished as soon as possible. Coniferous seeds may be sown about 

 the end of the month, or early in May, as the state of the soil and 

 weather permits. Should there be any appearance of frost, seed- 

 beds of larch and silver fir of last year's sowing, and later on, of 

 recently sown chestnut, beech, ash, etc., should receive some protec- 

 tion. Laurel prunings, or small branches of spruce or broom, stuck 

 upright in the beds, will serve the purpose. Dig between the lines 

 of undisturbed plants, so as to destroy weeds and encourage a 

 fibrous root growth. 



See to the condition of gates and fences, so that they may be in 

 a state to resist stock when turned out to the pastures. 



All remaining timber of the winter's cutting and thinning should 

 as soon as possible be removed from the wood or forest lands, and 

 the roads or rides that have been cut up put in order. 



Complete the pruning and dre.ssing of shrubs, box-edging and 

 trim up ivy on walk, and dig and clean up shrubberies and grounds 

 in general. 



Where a felling of oak is proposed to be barked, the trees might 

 soon be marked off, and a commencement made so soon as the bark 

 will rise freely. With very mild weather the work may be begun 

 about the end of the month. When once begun it should be pro- 

 ceeded with without interruption. ]). S. 



