isa4.] hOBEST WORK FOR THE MONTH. 2^^ 



the forest, and also into the nursery rows. Planting on dry soils should 

 be finished as early as possible ; but on retentive soils it may be very 

 successfully conducted during the whole of the month ; and where 

 ground game is abundant it is often an advantage to delay planting 

 until this time, to minimise the damage they are likely to cause. 

 Truniiig may still be carried on, except upon such trees as bleed early 

 and ))iofusely, but all pruning should be completed by the end of the 

 month. Where the exigency of the forest has to be subservient to 

 the pleasures of sport, this may be the only time when important 

 thinning operations can be carried on; and where this is the case the 

 work should be pushed forward with energy, and the thinnings cleared 

 out, into the rides, or elsewhere, as cleverly as possible. 



Tiiji Nursery. — The work of .the nursery should now^ be earnestly 

 and energetically conducted. Get out seedlings into nursery rows, and 

 in open weather, when the ground is sufticiently dry, sow the seeds of 

 lieech, Sycamore, Ash, Elm, Walnut, Mountain Ash, Yew, Cherry, 

 Chestnut, Hazel, Holly, &c., which were not sown in the autumn. 

 Complete putting in cutthigs of Willow, Planes, and Poplars, and 

 finish the planting of layers, and re-lay the stocks. Dig between the 

 rows of plants intended to remain, and trench into rough ridges all 

 ground intended for Fir seeds. Strong two year old Oaks, Beeches, &c., 

 that are to remain another year in the nursery rows, should be 

 loosened and lifted from the lines, and have their tap-roots and 

 straggling rootlets carefully pruned with a sharp knife, without 

 shaking much of the earth from them, and be immediately replaced 

 in the same ground to remain for another season. Plants so treated 

 do not generally present a luxuriant appearance during the summer ; 

 but they will form bushy and compact roots, which will enhance the 

 chances of their success when transplanted into the forest. 



A. Patekson. 



Humtretc, Pensford, Bristol. 



SCOTLAND. 



The winter months have all through been remarkably mild. We 

 have had, up to the time I write, hardly any seasonable weather, and 

 numbers of our earlier plants are advanced out of season. 



Embrace every opportunity for the completion of planting on dry 

 ground. The weather all through the season has been so favourable 

 for the work, that little may now remain to be done. The removal 

 of deciduous trees should now be attended to, beginning with the 

 larger sizes ; evergreens to be followed up throughout the season as 

 time and weather permit. 



X 



