1885.] FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. 401 



be done as soon as the trees shed their foliage ; and cuttings of 

 gooseberries and currants may be taken off and planted. 



Fences. — Finish switching and trimming hedges. Trench and 

 prepare ground for fresh planting, that it may be subjected to the 

 action of the atmosphere for some time before planting is begun. 



Scour out ditches during the month, and convey the cleanings to 

 the compost heap. Examine the outlets from field drains, and give 

 perfect freedom to the discharge of their waters. Look over drained 

 lands, and open np wherever any signs of the inefficiency of the 

 drains is indicated on the surface ; remove the obstruction, and 

 carefully relay the pipes to maintain the effective action of the 

 drains. 



Woods and Plantations. — Carry on preparations for planting ; 

 working up the bare and exposed portions of the ground first, and 

 leaving those parts covered with rough herbage to be worked up 

 last, as they may be done in frosty weather, when the bare parts 

 could neither be so efficiently nor economically worked. Heavy soils 

 should be pitted early, to admit of the weathering of the excavated 

 soil before planting ; but friable soils may be pitted and planted at 

 the same time. "Where the ground is dry, planting may be done 

 about the end of the month ; but damp soils are best left until the 

 winter frosts have passed away, as they loosen up the newly 

 disturbed ground, and endanger the vitality of the plants. Hares 

 and rabbits should be rigidly excluded from young plantations. 

 This is generally most effectually done by exterminating them from 

 the neighbourhood of the plantings. 



Mark timber for winter cuttings, and begin the thinning of 

 plantations where the game may be disturbed with impunity ; but 

 where this may not be done, this work must be left until the 

 shooting season has passed, 



NUESERY. — Many hardwooded trees ripen their seeds at this 

 time ; and we may collect for the nursery acorns, berries, keys, and 

 cones from Quercus, Platanus, Crata3gus, firs, and other trees, and 

 where the ground is ready they may be sown at once. Finish 

 taking cuttings off evergreens, and commence taking off and planting 

 deciduous cuttings. Eidge up vacant ground, and enrich exhausted 

 patches by dressings of compost or well-rotted dung. Transplant 

 hawthorn plants during dry weather, and other plants for their 

 removal to the forest. 



A. Paterson. 



Paultons, Romsey, Hampshire. 



