66 FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. [May 



f'oREST Work for the Month. 



ENGLAND. 



MAY, altliough sometimes subjected to the chilling effects of 

 easterly or north-easterly winds at the beginning, is in 

 f'eneral genial and cheering. The mean temperature in England 

 is about 52°, but tliis varies largely in different sections of the 

 country. The records of the thermometers often exhibit great 

 differences between the temperatures of day and night. The mean 

 rainfall is under 2 inches ; but this also varies over different 

 parts of the country. 



Last year, the rainfall at Greenwich for May was 0-94 inch; 

 below the average of the previous ten years by 0'8-4 inch. 



The rainfall recorded for the same period was, at — 



Edinburgh, . . . . 2-42 inches 



Glasgow, 2-83 „ 



Clifton, Bristol, . . . . 2-50 „ 



showing, as usual, an excess of moisture along tlie western side of 

 the country. 



In" this month, our woods, hedges, and fields exhibit a daily 

 improvement ; and the freshness and fragrance of the air invigorates 

 all nature into gay activity and interesting beauty, exciting our 

 admiration and gratitude. 



Orchard. — During dry weather, water late-planted trees and 

 bushes, and do this effectually, quite saturating the ground. Look 

 for the caterpillars of the lackey-moth, and destroy them whilst in 

 the early stages of their existence. They are very destructive to 

 some kinds of fruit trees, and are amongst tlie most constant and 

 troublesome of the insect pests with which gardeners and foresters 

 have to contend. The eggs of this moth are to be found on almost 

 every kind of shrub and tree, in gardens, orchards, hedges, and 

 woods, remaining on the twigs like skilfully-manufactured pearl 

 bracelets, for fully nine months before they are hatched. These 

 caterpillars sometimes swarm in myriads throughout entire districts, 

 and feed voraciously on the leaves of several kinds of fruit trees — 

 hazel, hawthorn, l)lackthorn, and oak ; stripping the best of the 

 foliage before they begin to change their state. I think a liberal 

 application of some of the insecticide washes might prove a check 

 to their ravages ; but every opportunity should be taken to destroy 

 the moths themselves when seen upon the wing. 



