784 The Journal of Forestry. 



quickly render a good fence perfectly useless, and precautions should be 

 taken in time to prevent this happening. Ornamental evergreens, 

 such as box, laurel, holly, and yew, may now be pruned with the pocket- 

 knife, or cut hard back where necessary to keep them within due 

 bounds. When such shrubs are allowed to grow up for years without 

 any pruning, they, if grown quickly, are sure to become bare at the 

 bottom, and require to be cut down to within a foot or two of the ground 

 to get them well furnished again. Instead of cutting all the tops right 

 off, it is a good plan, where a thick close mass is wanted of such plants 

 as common and Portugal laurels, rhododendi'ons, &c., to select the 

 most pliable of them to be cut about half through near to the root, and 

 then bend them to the ground, "layering" them in the bare spaces 

 between the stools. A few spadefuls of earth taken out to form a smar 

 trench, and the branch laid along it for a foot or two and held fast in 

 its place with a stout peg, with the earth filled in over it, is all that is 

 required to cause the branches to root and grow freely, quickly forming 

 a compact mass of evergreens. 



Be careful to collect at once all prunings of evergreens, especially 

 box and yew, and burn them ; because if allowed to lay about where 

 cattle, sheep, or pigs can get at them, very serious consequences may 

 be the result. Yew or box in a half- withered state appears to be 

 deadly poison to many animals, and no risk ought to be run when they 

 can be so easily put out of the reach of such animals by burning. 



Those plantation drives which have been cut up by traffic in the 

 winter, that are not likely to be carted over during the summer 

 should now be put in order and well rolled down with a heavy roller, so 

 as to obliterate all tracks of wheeled carriages, horses' feet, &c. A few 

 grass seeds sown on any bare spots will soon make all look green and 

 tidy. 



The planting of all deciduous trees should be completed as early 

 as possible this mouth. If delayed till the buds begin to swell and 

 expand, the trees receive a check from which they derive no benefit. 



In the nursery all the ground cleared of trees during the planting- 

 season should be immediately dug. If it is exhausted by the previous 

 crop, it should receive .a good dressing of well-made manure ; and for a 

 change, a crop of potatoes may be taken of it with much advantage. 



Proceed with the transplanting of all seedlings irom the beds into the 

 nursery rows. Dig between the rows of all plants that have not been 

 moved during this season. 



The sowing of all seeds, except those of the coniferous family, ought 

 to be completed this month, choosing a day for the operation when the 

 soil is in good tilth. 



KujiKitT Baxter. 

 Valhitli Pari', 



