ENGLAND. 



The advice given in the editorial note for March, respecting clearing 

 plantations of all " dead and decaying wood and fallen debris," should 

 at once be acted upon by every forester who wishes to maintain a 

 healthy state of vegetation in his woods. 



Though the transplanting of hardwoods in the nursery will now be 

 finished, conifers will still require attention, and may yet be planted 

 out with success. The great point to attend to now is quick 

 removal and as little exposure of the roots as possible. The advan- 

 tages of a good puddle for the immersion of the roots before transit have 

 been very manifest during the prevalence of the cold and drying winds 

 of March. 



The work of the nursery will still demand great attention, to finish 

 the sowing of seeds, raking over beds lately sown, hoeing among the 

 rows to keep down weeds, and loosening the soil between the rows to 

 promote the growth of fibrous roots. 



Should frosts come, it will be well to cover up beds of recently 

 planted beech, ash, chestnut, sycamore, and also to protect seedling 

 hawthorn, silver fir, larch, and spruce, by sticking in sprays or cuttings 

 which will partially shelter them, and prevent the sun striking the 

 young plants in the morning while the frost is on them. 



Where the grafting of forest trees is practised, operations upon the 

 elm, oak, and beech may now be finished. Upon the common oak 

 the Fulham and Lucombe may be grafted ; and the Norway maple, 

 or even the common sycamore, may receive grafts of the rare or varie- 

 gated kinds. The wonderful variety of its tints and the beauty of its 

 soft cloud- like outlines render the maple a great ornament to the park, 

 the avenue, or the plantation. The stocks selected for grafting upon 

 should if possible be from 20 to 30 years old. 



During very dry or frosty weather the dead branches of the larch, 

 spruce, and silver fir may be pruned ofl" by dealing them a smart blow 

 near the trunk of the tree with a stout cudgel, as such branches are 

 then brittle : this causes the loosening and withdrawal of the dead 



