132 PROTECTION OF AFFORESTED AREAS 



do any goo^ to the oak. As a matter of fact, the 

 removal of the leaves stops the growth of the tree, 

 the formation of wood, in the middle of the growing 

 season, thus reducing the increment of wood put on 

 that year. Such attacks carried out persistently 

 on a tree over a number of years result in a smaller 

 amount of timber being realized from that tree when 

 it -is finally felled. 



From the foregoing remarks it becomes evident 

 that some form of enactment will be necessary to 

 enforce a common measure of protective management 

 for the forests of the country with a view ta making 

 it imperative that all proprietors should keep their 

 woods clean in order to minimise insect attacks. And 

 that it should be out of the power of any proprietor, 

 as it is not at present, to endanger the woods of his 

 neighbour by working his own on unscientific lines. 



Protection against Noxious Plants and Fungi 



Beyond mentioning the fact of the existence of 

 dangerous plant and fungus pests, such as, e.g., mis- 

 tletoe, dodder, furze (whin), broom, bracken, etc., 

 and several far more dangerous fungi, all of which 

 in their various degrees and locaUties may prove 

 inimical to the growth of trees, it is impossible to 

 deal with this matter in any length. A great deal 

 of research work in this direction is necessary to 

 enable methods of practical usefulness, and at the 

 same time not too costly, to be put in force in the 

 forest to counteract them. A well-known instance 

 throughout the country is the common larch canker, 

 which may, and often does, kill out single trees or 



