1885.] FOREST WORK FOR THE MOXTIL 519 



SCOTLAND. 



PLANTING should be carried on so long as the ground is neither 

 too wet nor too hard frozen. If too wet, the ground cannot 

 be properly firmed about the plants, and the rootlets at same time 

 suffer from being puddled in. And if the ground is hard frozen, 

 apart from the difficulty of firming the plants, the trees do not 

 succeed so well as when planted in fresh dry earth in its natural 

 state. 



On closely watching the growth of forest trees for a few years 

 after planting, there is such a marked difference of their growth, 

 that I think there are some circumstances connected with the 

 operation as yet not properly understood. 



In connection with winter planting, it is always desirable to have 

 other work to turn to, as the state of the weather renders necessary, 

 and the nearer to the place of planting the better, so as to economize 

 time in changing from the one place to the other ; and for this 

 purpose draining answers Avell, either making new drains or cleaning 

 old ones. 



Thinning or cutting wood or timber are also kinds of work that 

 can be done to good advantage in weather that does not suit for 

 planting. 



Lifting plants in the nursery, making cuttings of elder, privet, 

 buckthorn, ribes, and berry bushes when such are grown. Also 

 digging, ridging, and trenching ground, making up and turning 

 compost heaps, etc. 



Eaking and collecting leaves in the policies where this work falls 

 to the hands of the forester, and this, it need hardly be said, con- 

 stitutes a very large, expensive, and important work on many estates. 

 In the pleasure-grounds here, we collect annually several hundred 

 cart-loads of leaves, which, in seasons of scarcity of straw, the 

 surroundin<T small tenants and crofters cart home for bedding to 

 their cattle, for which purpose they answer well. 



Fences of all lands should be kept in good repair, for in their 

 case the proverb is truly applicable, " A stitch in time saves nine ; " 

 for by the timely driving of a nail, or putting in a post, which 

 would only cost a few pence, several shillings can often be saved. 



Hedge-pruning should be continued, young ones dug and cleaned, 

 and any new ones that are to be planted should be proceeded with. 

 Too much attention cannot be paid to the preparation of the hedge 

 bed or ground into which the plants are to be planted. Not only 

 should the ground be rendered dry by means of drainage, but the 

 soil should be thoroughly pulverized, and for thorn I think lime is 



