Forest Work for the Month. 855 



Fork between the rows of nil trees not removed or transplanted 

 this season. Keep the hoes going to prevent weeds getting a-head. 



Sow the seeds of all coniferous trees towards the end of the 

 month, and immediately net them over to prevent the birds taking 

 them. Old herring nets are the best and cheapest material for this 

 purpose. Egbert Baxter. 



Dcdheith Purl: 



IRELAND. 



The month just ended has been a yery favourable one for vegetation, 

 and everything is far advanced for the season of the year. The 

 forester will now in addition to the general routine of forest work given 

 in previous numbers of this Journal, have to make preparation for 

 commencing barking operations. We have for some years past begun 

 as early this month as the "sap is up," and found tanners particu- 

 larly fond of our bark. Examine the trees before they are felled, by 

 nserting below the bark a baikiug iron, and only cut those suffi- 

 ciently advanced to admit of the bark being removed without much 

 labour in pounding with the mallet. Tanners in this country are very 

 choice in reference to the quality of the bark, preferring a thick rind 

 of a reddish colour. It is very difficult to save bark in our moist climate, 

 and great care must l)e used iu selecting an open exposed place as a 

 bark yard. The bark ought to be thinly laid together when drying, 

 and when cured put into a rick with as little delay as possible. 



Select the first fortnight of this month as the proper time for 

 pruning oak copse. In attending to this work preserve such shoots as 

 are most perpendicular and lowest down on the stock, cutting away all 

 side and straggling spray. Four or at most six stems, if equally dis- 

 tributed round the old stool, will be a sufficient crop to leave, and these 

 ought to be straight and well pruned. 



It must not be forgotten that in many parts of the country young 

 plantations suff'er severely from an overgrowth of ferns. This evil can 

 easily be remedied about the end of the month by attending to the 

 worst places, and breaking off the top of the tender ferns with a small 

 wattle. When done at this season the cost per acre is a mere 

 bagatelle. 



Early in the month sow beech and other seeds if not done before. 

 Towards the end, sow firs and larch. Before sowing small seeds it is well 

 to poison them, to prevent birds damaging the beds. If the seed is 

 moistened and mixed with a little red-lead, birds will shun the beds. 

 We have adopted this plan for many years, and always found it most 

 effectual. 



Now is the time for the forester to multiply his stock of rare and 

 ornamental trees by grafting. There are a great many methods of put- 



