Summer Operations Beneficial to Plantations. 1 7 



wooded trees of strong healthy growth, such as eliu, oak, chestaut, 

 and other rough-barked varieties. A further benefit to be observed 

 as resulting to young phmtations from such summer treatment as has 

 been indicated, is the prevention of the growth in woods, of fungi, 

 lichens, mosses, and other parasites inimical to profitable timber 

 culture. There are many varieties of fungi in different stages 

 of development, popularly designated "mildew;" and it is well 

 known that this abnormal parasitic growth is usually most to be 

 observed upon unhealthy or stunted plants ; whether itself causing 

 tlie puny liabit and diseased appearance, or whether selecting such 

 trees as are of a sickly nature, is uncertain ; but this much is sure, 

 that plants or trees, and plantations, with a free healthy circulation of 

 light and air through and around them, and which evince a vigorous 

 and healthy well-nourished condition, are far uiore able to outgrow 

 any such attacks, hov/ever severe, than the weakly stunted offsprings 

 of an overcrowded, unpruned, slovenly attended-to plantation, whose 

 rank grass and bracken overtops the small, and chokes the free cir- 

 culation of air and light amongst the stems of the taller trees, making 

 them harbours for these destructive enemies to lodge in, and prey upon 

 them at leisure. The free circulation of air and light materiall}' 

 assists in deterring such growths; and the bark of the trees is 

 kept in a mucli healthier condition, while many of the more 

 destructive insects are thereby unable to find securely sheltered 

 hatching-places for their larvae in the crevices of unhealthy bark. 

 Nor is tins the least important advantage accruing from a general 

 overhaul during summer of our woods and plantations, for the havoc 

 and devastation caused by insects is far more than that resulting 

 from any other agency; and besides, when once these pests have 

 ■established themselves in any locality they are most difficult of 

 dislodgment. In such cases it is well to adopt, where practicable, 

 the motto usually applied to the medical profession, rrincipiis ohstu 

 (withstand beginnings), for, from the myriads of the enemy, and their 

 persistent and tenacious attacks, the cure is frequently very difficult, 

 and the insects are only eradicated in some instances by the 

 sacrifice of the patient. 



Another fruitful source of injury to forest lands and plantations, more 

 particularly perhaps to Conifers, are the ravages committed by insects, 

 caterpillars and moths. These marauders can also be most effectually 

 dealt with and destroyed during the summer months, for then they 

 are more easily seen and found than when, in the cjld months of 

 winter, they assume their dormant habits and forms, and are con- 

 cealed beneath the bariv, or in the soil, or in convenient crevices 

 <of stone, or roclc, or decaying stumps. 



In this department of forest knowledge it were well that the great 



VOL. I. C 



