PLANTING. 115 



Hares, rabbits, &c., must be kept out by fencing, 

 especially wire netting. Squirrels must be shot. 



Amongst insects, the cockchafer and the wire-worm 

 are the most destructive in temperate Europe. In both 

 cases damage is difficult to .prevent. Cockchafers are 

 specially fond of laying eggs in clearings in the forest, 

 such as a nursery; and if this be repeated once or 

 twice, it may be necessary to change the site of the 

 nursery. Almost the only way to meet the damage in 

 the case of grubs of the cockchafer and the wireworm 

 is to collect them. 



(2.) Extremes of climate make themselves felt by 

 frost or drought. 



In the first place a considerable fall of temperature 

 interferes with the proper germination of the seeds, 

 and it may injure young seedlings. Such damage is' 

 prevented by covering the seed-beds with moss, grass, 

 straw, needles or short branches of Conifers, or by 

 erecting a temporary roof at a convenient height over 

 the seed-beds. Very delicate seedlings may be raised 

 under glass. The covering should tie removed during 

 the day and replaced in the evening. Somewhat later 

 on, alternate freezing and thawing may lift the young 

 plants out of the ground; this can be prevented by 

 covering the space between the lines, or by heaping 

 earth on to the plants. If, nevertheless, it should occur, 

 the plants must be speedily put back into the ground. 



Damage by drought is prevented somewhat in the same 

 way as that by frost, best by shades, which are placed 

 overhead, or on the sunny side of the beds. If the dry 

 weather should last for some time, the beds may have 

 to be watered. This, if once commenced, must be con- 



I 2 



