Workers in Woodcraft. 285 



and hang out glories of snowy and pink blossoms 

 in spring the pear, the cherry, and the wild 

 apple. Sombre yews that set off the pale green 

 of the woodlands are plentiful, and in them the 

 cushats and the jays build. In addition to these 

 there are the wild service tree, white beam, and 

 mountain ash, the last called by the old man the 

 rowan. 



Planting and thinning and felling constitute 

 the work of the woodman throughout the year. 

 But there are a thousand little offshoots of wood- 

 craft of which he has knowledge and which he 

 indulges at times. Like the charcoal burners, he 

 holds free right and warren of the woods. He 

 can make many primitive lures for taking wild 

 creatures, and is an adept at "gins" and " springs " 

 for destroying vermin. In winter he sets snares 

 for woodcock and snipe. He is a great favourite 

 with the resident boys at the neighbouring gram- 

 mar school, and procures them mice and squirrels 

 and birds' eggs. He makes wooden pegs and 

 teeth for the farmers, and various little articles 

 for the farm women. He sells bundles of fag- 

 gots and sticks for supporting peas, and a dozen 

 other perquisites, all products of the woodlands. 

 The embrowned nuts of autumn he turns to 

 profitable account. In the forest are numerous 

 hazel copses, together forming many acres. In 

 autumn the old man was surprised to receive a 

 visit from a burly man in a gig. He told the 



