68 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



one man may manage thirty acres. His work will 

 consist of treading in the trees, which, especially in 

 the former case, will always become loose by contrac- 

 tion of the soil, and cutting the surrounding herbage, 

 be it grass, fern, or scrub. Here and there an outside 

 ornamental tree will need staking, drains will need 

 keeping open, and so on. 



The best instrument for cutting the herbage is a 

 short-bladed scythe. A hook is often used ; but, we 

 think, trees are in more danger with this than 

 the former. Care, under all circumstances, is needed, 

 as much injury may result If the trees are allowed 

 to grow in the midst of this undergrowth, a large 

 number will damp off; so that the work is really 

 necessary, and the expense should not be considered. 

 We have seen much injury follow from neglect of 

 this simple action on the part of the forester. Let the 

 forester satisfy himself on this point by visiting a 

 plantation where the undergrowth is rank and luxuri- 

 ant, and where the scythe has not been used, and he 

 will find many of the trees dead and covered with 

 mildew. Under such circumstances as we have 

 described, it will not be found sufficient to cut when 

 full growth has taken place, but it must be cut early 

 and kept cut throughout the season. Many trees, 

 too, as we have stated, would be saved if they were 

 newly earthed and trodden from time to time. If all 

 this is carefully carried out, the necessity for replant- 

 ing will be reduced to a minimum, and uniformity, as 

 far as possible, will be secured, and at a moderate cost. 

 On heavy land the cost may be put at 7s., and on 

 light land 35. 6cl. an acre. This is so trifling, that, 



