646 FOREST WORK FOR THE MOMlf. [Feb. 



f 0RE8T Work for the Month. 



ENGLAND. 



ri'^HE weather of February is extremely variable and uncertain, 

 X. and often unpropitious for forest planting. Last February 

 rain fell at Greenwich upon 19 days, to a depth of 2'35 inches; and 

 at Bristol it fell upon 17 days, to a depth of 3*3 45 inches. 



Orchard. — Finish planting and pruning early in the month ; 

 and when attending to the pruning of orchard trees, see that every 

 branch is made clear of its neighbour, and that they are so thinned 

 that, when windy, they do not chafe together. Clean off all moss 

 and lichen from the stems and branches, and dress the ground with 

 fresh soil, or a good mulching of manure. Thin out raspberries, 

 and prune and thin out gooseberry and currant bushes. 



Fences. — Finish planting thorn hedges as early as possible ; and 

 the cutting and laying of hedges should now be finished. 



Woods. — Those operations recommended for last month may be 

 continued throughout this, under favourable conditions of the 

 weather. Pruning should not be continued far into the month, 

 especially upon such trees as spring early and bleed freely. 



IsTuRSERY AND PLEASURE GROUNDS. — Carry on all nursery work 

 vigorously. Get seedlings out into nursery-rows, and when the 

 ground is dry sow the seeds of ash, beech, cherry, chestnut, elm, hazel, 

 holly, walnut, yew, etc. Finish putting in cuttings of planes, 

 poplars, and willows, and the planting of layers, and relaying of 

 stocks. Dig between the rows of plants that are not shifted, and 

 trench into rough ridges the ground intended for fir seeds. 



If the weather is mild, rhododendrons, box, and plants of this 

 kind, that always lift with good balls of earth, may be moved with 

 comparative safety. 



A. Paterson. 



Paultons, Romsey, Hampshire. 



SCOTLAND. 



AS we enter this month, our pace should be accelerated, since 

 it forcibly reminds us that time for the work to be done 

 is but short. 



Planting of all kinds should be executed with despatch when- 

 ever the state of the weather and the condition of the soil will 



