202 FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. [July 



Amongst other works that can be done advantageously at this 

 time of the year, may be mentioned, all kinds of painting, tarring, 

 whitewashing, varnishing, creosoting, etc., applicable to gates, fences, 

 bridges, and outside woodwork generally. 



The bark, in whatever condition, should be well looked to, that it 

 do not contract mould, and must have strict attention till out of 

 hand and delivered to the purchaser. 



The nursery, shrubbery, and osier or willow beds should be con- 

 stantly hoed and raked with at least the twofold object of keeping 

 down the weeds and keeping out the drought. 



As very much of the comfort and pleasure of walking or driving 

 in the woods depend upon the condition of the roads and walks, 

 these, according to their kind, should be kept in good order. Grass 

 and rank herbage of all kinds should be duly cut, the surface kept 

 smooth and uniform, by levelling and rolling ; overhanging and low- 

 set branches lopped off, dead and withered boughs removed, and 

 every unsightly and offensive object trimmed so as to make the 

 woods pleasant to look at. 



Young plantations, and specially those growing amongst brackens, 

 nettles, and suchlike, must now be released before they expand and 

 exclude the sun's rays ; otherwise, if left till next month or later, the 

 plants will in all likelihood be irrecoverably lost. A man one day 

 clearing off bracken now, will do as much work, and to better 

 perfection, than he would in six a month hence. 



Young and recently-planted hedges should be thoroughly hoed 

 and raked, which, in addition to killing the weeds, assists greatly in 

 keeping out the drought and encouraging the plants to root. 



The squirrel must also be sharply looked after, to see that no 

 peeling is done. He prefers the Scotch fir of between fifteen and 

 thirty years' growth to all others ; but when nothing better is at 

 hand, he uses the silver fir, and even the larch and spruce. He is 

 usually found at his favourite occupation of peeling on the sunny side 

 of the plantation, especially after a mild shower of rain. 



The caterpillar, pine beetle, and other insects require attention. 

 When the caterpillar is found early in the season upon young trees, 

 it is usually in great clusters, and in that state they can very quickly 

 be despatched by crushing them in the hand ; but if allowed to 

 spread, they are beyond human control. 



Pinching of improper buds in the pinetum, nursery, or elsewhere, 

 and also pruning in general, is a work that can be well done now. 

 Seeds of the elm should be gathered, and sown at once, as when 

 kept they lose their germinating property. 



Trees intended to be cut in autumn, may now be marked with the 

 brazer, especially those of the ornamental class, or others growing 



