66 FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. [Nov., 



Fill in gaps with well-rooted strong plants,- and '' ncourage their 

 growth by applications of rotted manure or well-mixed compost. 



Plantations. — Push forward planting upon all dry or well- 

 drained grounds, leaving as little as possible of this work until the 

 spring. Where the lands are spongy or wet, there may be an advan- 

 tage in delaying the planting of such until the early months of the 

 approaching year ; but where the lands are dry, planting should be 

 pushed forward whenever the weather is favourable. 



Thinning and pruning may also be carried on in young plantations, 

 where this does not interfere with shooting arrangements. I consider 

 the early and judicious pruning of young hardwood trees to be of the 

 greatest importance in the cultivation of healthy and sound timber, 

 and I have no faith in the old notion of allowing such trees to prune 

 themselves. During a practice extending over thirty-five years, I 

 have had many opportunities of witnessing the baneful effects of this 

 nature-pruning mode in various parts of the country, and noticing 

 the vexations and losses occasioned by the many defects in the 

 timber produced upon this slovenly and careless system. I do 

 not advocate the amputation of large limbs from trees that are 

 being grown for useful purposes, but recommend early and regular 

 periodical pruning, with careful thinning, until the trees arrive at 

 that stage in their development when they can be left to expand into 

 useful timber. If this work is performed with that care and 

 judgment which the importance of the issue demands, there would 

 be fewer defects to complain of in the timber when the matured tree 

 is stretched upon the saw-bench for dissection. 



Woods. — Fell timber and arrange for sales as early as possible, to 

 afford time and opportunity for removal, which frost will greatly 

 facilitate. 



Collect fallen leaves and cart to the depots ; and in frosty weather 

 remove the rotted leaves of former gatherings from the depots to the 

 nursery ground, or where otherwise required. 



Finish the collecting of tree seeds, and dispose of them accord- 

 ing to their kind, laying in heaps to rot, or spreading in the drying 

 loft, as the case may require. 



Nursery.— Ridge up all plots of ground in the nursery as soon as 

 they become vacant, and push on the operations recommended for 

 last month as the weather will permit. Eemove layers from stools 

 and plant them into the nursery lines. Dig around and dress the 

 stools, giving them a dressing of well-rotted manure and matured 

 compost. Lay down the young shoots produced last summer. 



Field Drains and outlets not examined and attended to last 

 month should receive immediate attention before frosts set in and 



