274 FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. [Aug. 



The summer growth of the hedges should now be pruned off, and 

 the whole surface rendered eye-sweet. When choice can be had, 

 thorn hedges should be pruned in dry weather, and beech in wet or 

 dull weather. The latter is so comparatively tender that it withers 

 less or more if pruned in very hot, dry weather, which spoils the 

 appearance very much for a time. All whin hedge-pruning should 

 be finished to enable them to get clothed before winter sets in, 

 otherwise they are apt to lose their vitality during frost. 



The sickle and other instruments for weed destruction should be 

 freely used, especially amongst young trees of less than 3 feet high. 

 Nettles, brackens, thistles, docks, ragweed, queen of the meadow, 

 wild rasp, rank grasses of all sorts, and anything that tends to 

 choke or obstruct the growth of the plant, should be removed. 

 Light air, and freedom for the full and free development of every 

 member, is what every tree demands, and is entitled to have as far 

 as possible. 



The ravages of insects should be duly watched, but indeed little 

 more can be done beyond merely ascertaining the fact and looking 

 on. Who can cope with the caterpillar spread over a forest, where 

 the tree-tops mingle with the clouds and every leaf animate with 

 insect life ? In the nursery or young plantation, where the trees are 

 within reach of the hand, the caterpillar may and ought to be 

 summarily dealt with by simply crushing it with the hand, glove on 

 or glove ofi^ as sentiment and feeling dictate. The pine beetle may 

 be dealt with in a corresponding manner; the shoots which show 

 the usual unmistakeable signs of attack may simply be cut, or broken 

 off, put into a sheet or basket, and carried to a convenient place to 

 be calcined with vitriol or burned with fire. Squirrels should also 

 be strictly watched, not that they peel the trees so much now as 

 earlier in the season. At this time of year they live principally 

 upon the cones, but they should be killed at any season whensoever 

 and wheresoever found. 



Fires should be carefully guarded against, since here prevention 

 is everything, cure next to nothing. When a fire does take place, 

 two things should be done, and which often prove of much practical 

 value, namely, men keeping abreast with the fire, and with long 

 switches preventing it from spreading. The other is to go in the 

 same direction the fire is going, light a fire at a drain or burn-side, 

 or open part of the plantation, or any place where it can be directed 

 to burn backwards towards the approaching fire. In this way much 

 valuable plantation can often be saved. This is often a dry and 

 warm month, and therefore large trees recently planted are apt to 

 perish for want of water. A thorough good w^atering once or twice 

 a week is sufficient to preserve life, and should not be neglected, 



