1885.] FOREST WO UK FOR THE MONTH. 337 



Paint and tar all fences requiring tliis treatment during this 

 month and the next ; seeing that new woodwork is thoroughly dry 

 before the paints are applied. 



Woods. — Mow and trim the rides and shooting paths, and prune 

 park and hedgerow trees, removing all drooping and irregular 

 branches, that distort their balance and symmetry. Select and 

 mark timber for autumn and winter felling. Scour out ditches, and 

 clean out wood drains during this month and the next. 



NuusEUY. — Use the digging-fork and rake energetically, and 

 about the end of the month insert cuttings of laurel, privet, yew, 

 etc., and other evergreens propagated in this manner ; also propagate 

 by layering such shrubs as are stooled out, and continue budding 

 ornamental trees. A. Patersox. 



Paultons, Romsey, Hants. 



SCOTLAND. 



THE annual growth of forest trees, with the exception of tlie 

 larch, oak, and Spanish chestnut, may be considered as over 

 for the season ; and it is no unimportant work to ascertain what the 

 extent and value of the year's growth is, whether in individual 

 trees, in single plantations, or on the whole estate. In young 

 plantations the growth is usually ascertained by finding the average 

 length of the top shoots, and multiplying it by the number of trees 

 upon the acre. Often this should, in the case of pine and fir 

 plantations, be about 800 trees to the acre. The annual growth of 

 timber-size trees is found by first ascertaining the thickness of the 

 annual layer or zone, and reducing it to cubic measure. 



All trees to be cut in winter in the policies, ornamental trees 

 generally, should now be marked with the rase knife, which only 

 makes a scratch in the bark without producing much appearance, 

 and should be done on that side least observable from the drives or 

 walks. 



Any recently planted trees not already so treated, should be 

 cleared of long grass and rank herbage, otherwise they will be soft, 

 tender, and feeble, incapable of withstanding the winter's frost. 

 Through such inattention thousands of young trees perish, and 

 thereby blanks are made in the richest and best tree-growing spots 

 in the plantation. 



If the weather continues dry, all recently transplanted trees of 

 large growth should be well watered. Trees over a year planted 

 may also require an occasional copious watering. 



