598 The Jotirnal of Forestry. 



their contributions the work could not have been carried on, and to 

 their talent and assiduity a great portion of our success must be justly 

 ascribed ; and it is, therefore, with much confidence that we express a 

 hope that duiing 1878 their pens may be fruitful, so that the garners of our 

 columns maybe well stored. The departments of the "Editor's Box "and 

 " ;N"otesand Queries " we are bappy to observe have been well supported, 

 but still more use may be made of tliem. "We want every forester who, in 

 the course of his daily rounds, comes across any single fact which he 

 does not understand, to jot it down in his note-book, and forward 

 it to us by the next post. ISTo matter how simple the question, if 

 it is something that he wants to know, he may rest assured that there 

 are many others who are just as ignorant on the subject as himself, and 

 he may be equally sure that amongst the readers of this Journal there 

 will be someone who can give him a straightforward, reliable answer ; 

 then, again, in the " Editor's Box " the discussion on preserving 

 wood posts, spruce timber, the prices of timber, &c., have led to the 

 interchange of much useful information, and we hope to see many 

 good discussions carried on with vigour and in a teacliable spirit 

 during this year. 



These, then, Eeader, are our new year's hopes and wishes : will you 

 help us to realize them ? If so, we shall succeed, and when we come 

 to compare notes at the end of 1878 we shall find that our work has 

 not been without its beneficial influence upon us all. 



Many planters of choice trees and shrubshave a settled prejudice against 

 all grafted Coniferous plants, and specially against those of the Pine and 

 Fir tribes. In bygone years there undoubtedly was much cause 

 for such a prejudice ; but with a better knowledge of the subject, and 

 wider experience of its results, the operation is now performed with 

 the greatest success in every nursery of note in the kingdom, and 

 with the best ultimate effect on the plants when transferred to 

 a permanent position. Without the process of grafting it would 

 be absolutely impossible to get up a sufficient stock of many 

 of the finest varieties of Pines and Firs, to supply the demand for 

 such stately and handsome ornamental trees. By a proper selection 

 of stocks and scions, in a good condition for " working," a neat and 

 expert manipulator will perform the operation in such a successful 

 manner that in the course of a few years it is almost impossible to 

 detect the spot where the union has been made, and in the case of 

 many varieties, the scion forms amore robust and handsome tree when 

 grafted, than ever it can be got to do on its own roots, which in the 

 case of varieties can only be produced with certainty from cuttings. We 

 have been led to make these remarks from observing the beautiful 



