Vulnerable Trees In a sort of tree census, taken of
approved districts in the West of England, it appears that the common spruce, which had lost some of its old popularity, stood the winter with complete success, while its neighbours, the Japanese larch and the Douglas fir, or spruce, has suffered severely. Among deciduous trees, the oaks have lost many of their upper branches and the hardy birches are in no better case. A West Country farmer, in the metaphorical manner of his race, said of one birch with half-broken boughs, " Yes : she had to let her hair down." On the subject of trees—the Forestry Commission make their first essay this week in a promising scheme for the employment of boys from 17 to 19 years old in forestry work. They are given a small wage and suitably boarded and lodged close to their work. Recruits are coming forward and more are wanted. This Argyllshire experiment may be worth copying in other departments of productive work on the land. In more than one district of Scotland parties of older people have volunteered for the work of cutting trees and boughs for fuel. This practice, too, is worth wider imitation. The country is full of unlovely timber, useful only for burning.
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