Forest Work for tlie Month. 47 



wages, or by piece work ; also the most expeditious and certain way of 

 drying bark, as well as its after management till it is sold or delivered 

 to the tanner or bark merchant. 



The pruning of all deciduous trees and shrubs ought to have been 

 finished early last month at latest, and the pruning of evergreens 

 should be completed as early as possible in this month, as it is not 

 advisable to cut them hard-in after they have begun to grow freely. 

 The cutting-in, or pruning, of evergreens should always be done neatly, 

 and close to the base of a leaf or bud, the cut stopping down from it. 

 See that alldr ains and watercourses are cleared of any obstructive 

 material which may have been deposited in them during the winter 

 months, and look to the putting in order of all fences, of whatever 

 kind, before stock are turned into the pastures. See also that the 

 gates of fields and plantations are in proper order, with the fastenings 

 all complete-, as nothing destroys a gate sooner than to allow it to be 

 swung about by the wind, or, if badly hung, the head scraping the 

 ground every time the gate requires to be opened. 



Pay particular attention to all recently planted specimen trees, 

 and see that they are securely staked to prevent them being swafcred 

 by the wind. If the weather is hot and dry do not allow them to 

 suffer from want of water. A timely watering is the saving of many 

 a valuable specimen, and should never be omitted if plants are 

 expected to thrive and grow quickly into fine specimens. 



Look over all recently planted young trees in plantations, and see 

 that they are all firmly secured in the soil. If they have been 

 •' swagged " by the wind or the soil cracked by drought, a firm stamp 

 of the foot will make all right, and save many trees that would 

 otherwise die off if not attended to. 



In the nursery the sowing of all pine, larch, and fir seeds should 

 be completed before the middle of the month. Look over the pre- 

 viously grafted forest trees and repair the clay on the grafts, where 

 it has cracked or dropped off, as the complete exclusion of the air 

 tends greatly to the success of grafting. 



Low grafted trees are better to have the soil drawn up over the 

 clay on the graft, leaving only the scion exposed. Weed seed beds, 

 and wage a determined war against all weeds, keeping the hoes o^oino- 

 amongst them, and never allowing them to get into a flowerino- state. 

 One dry day at this season is better for killing weeds than a whole 

 week later on, when they have got into a flowering and seedino- state- 

 and many weeds run so quickly to seed that not a day should be lost 

 in destroying them after they have made their appearance. 



