652 The Journal of Forestry. 



trees ought to be lifted and laid or slieiighed in ready for removal. 

 Evergreens ought to be laid very thin in the " sheugh " to prevent 

 heating, as they are apt to do when laid in thickly. We prefer this 

 month for refilling young plantations and replacing all failures. This 

 should be done early in the month. 



Quick hedges should now be planted on previously prepared ground. 

 Line fences should also be planted on ditches {p^o. for turf fence). All 

 deciduous hedges ought to be switched and plashed without delay. Trim- 

 mings of evergreen from the pleasure-ground may be drawn out to the 

 wood, and laid into heaps for game coverts. Undercover may be 

 extended by layering, and the present month will be found highly 

 suitable for such work where large quantities of pheasants are 

 preserved. Whatevei planting and pruning are required in preserved 

 covers should now be done while the game are hand-fed. 



It is seldom thinning is timeously done in this country, and when 

 it must be, it is too often overdone. We cannot, therefore, impress 

 too strongly on foresters having charge of young plantations to see 

 after all overcrowded woods, and have them judiciously regulated. 



Draining, like thinning, is seldom executed until the damage is done. 

 This and fencing will occupy the men to advantage during frosty 

 weather when not too severe. Quarry and break stones for repairing 

 the roads. Keep all the water-tables clear, and never allow an 

 accumulation of drift to lodge near the mouth of the conduit. 



Keep on planting in the nursery during fine weather. In laying out 

 seedlings into rows, give ample room to each plant. We allow 15 in. 

 between the rows and 6 in. between the plants, for larch and pine. 

 Hardwood, 18 in. between the rows, and 12 in. between the plants. 

 This gives fine stubby plants, and admits of thorough cleaning during 

 the season. 



Alterations in the pleasure-grounds ought to be wound up about the 

 end of the month, and the walks and drives gravelled. 



BallinacotiHc, Ti'p'pcrary. D. Sym Scott. 



WALES. 



Foresters who have a moderate extent of planting, thinning, and 

 falling of timber, will be principally occupied much the same as last 

 month. The first month of the year, however, is not generally con- 

 sidered one of the best for planting young trees ; but where much 

 planting has to be done in one season, there is sometimes little choice, 

 as to time, providing the weather is open and favourable. So far 

 we have not had frost enough to stop planting even for a couple of 



