Forest Work for the Month. 267 



Potato blight has made its appearance in several gardens in the 



south of Ireland. 



D. Sym Scott, 

 Ballinacourte, Tijjperanj. Forester. 



WALES. 



During the latter half of the present month (August) and the first 

 half of the next we perhaps do less work comparatively than during 

 any other part of the year. This is owing mainly to the extra expense 

 of labour at this season, it being the custom to pay all our workmen 

 much higher wages during harvest than at any other time ; while it is 

 desirable to allow as many men as possible to be engaged in securing 

 the crops of the soil. Harvest hands are generally engaged weekly at 

 wages ranging from 20s. to 25s. per week with their food, and other 

 labourers, at whatever work employed, are paid the same wages, for 

 one month, with an allowance of Is. per day extra in lieu of victuals. 

 It is the practice, therefore, to keep on only as many men as are 

 actually required, for cleaning, &c., during the harvest season, and to 

 allow the remainder to enoaoje for harvest work for one month with 

 the neighbouring farmers ; the latter thereafter returning to their 

 usual occupation. This arrangement works well, and appears to be 

 advantageous to both parties. Generally speaking the work necessary 

 to be done at this season is not very heavy, and may be performed by 

 a limited number of labourers. 



During the period the workmen should be employed in preparing 

 mountain ground for planting during the coming season ; by cutting 

 and clearing the gorse and loosening the soil by picking — instead of 

 pitting — so as to be ready for notch planting, and enclosing the same 

 by wire fencing. 



Also in mowing, and cleaning up all rides and shooting drives, 

 and cutting thistles, docks, &c., round the margins of plantations, and 

 among young trees, before seeding. This work should, if possible, 

 precede the harvest, so that the game on being driven into the woods, 

 as the crops are cut down, may not be disturbed by the operations. 



We are cleaning, hoeing, and weeding, and towards the end of the 

 month we will be switching hedges. Hoeing, weeding, and cleaning in 

 nursery grounds is being proceeded with, especially during dry weather, 

 which should always be taken advantage of. In such weather the 

 destruction of weeds is facilitated and the cleaning thereby accelerated. 



Mowing dressed grounds, gravelling and rolling walks, and cleaning 

 in pleasure-grounds as last month, are being continued. 



There were heavy rains with thunder and lightning in this district, 

 from the night of 13th to morning of IGth July. 



Kinmel Park. Lewis Bayne, Forester. 



