Pruning The next few months is the Hints. ideal season for pruning, while the leaves are still on the trees; it is then no difficult task to discern the dead wood. These dead branches and tops may be due to the activity of a bark borer. Such destruction is very common among the hickories, maples and beeches. Remove these limbs and burn them. Burning is essential to destroy the grubs and to prevent them from maturing and developing a destructive progeny. A few general suggestions apropro of pruning. 1. Secure a hand cross-cut saw for large limbs and pole saw blades which can be adjusted to any length pole for smaller limbs. A pair of pruning shears made to be attached to a pole and operated from the ground can be secured from any hardware store and will be found very useful for removing small branches. Axes, ropes, mallets, chisels, etc., are of course indispensable. 2. Never make a horizontal cut. Such a cut affords an opportunity for water to settle on the exposed wood and invite decay. Make the cut slant, preferably away from the trunk. 3. When removing large limbs never fail to make an undercut about a foot from the trunk of the tree. Remove the limb leaving the stub which can then be removed flush with the main stem. By doing this all danger from stripping the bark is avoided and a clean face is left exposed which has every opportunity to heal satisfactorily. 4. Paint all scars with a mixture of coal tar and creosote-two parts of coal tar to one of creosote. The penetrating quality of the creosote guarantees a protective covering to the exposed wood and will prevent decay until such time as the bark will have completely grown over the scar. 5. Leave no stubs while pruning. The bark inevitably works loose from the stub and water soon invites conditions that start disintegration and rot. Yearly pruning carefully done prevents the formation of cavities so destructive to trees. THE horse chestnut is coming into its own. From London we hear that the Ministry of Munitions has found that horse chestnuts can replace some cereals "which have been necessary for the production of an article of great importance in the prosecution of the war." Plans have been made to collect thousands of tons of them. Who knows but that even the lowly ailanthus may contain some esential war time product? ** COLLECT the leaves and instead of burning them use them as a mulch in beds of shrubbery and around recently planted trees. This is especially needed in a rhododendron or azalia bed. Pile the dead leaves around the plant and cover with well decomposed manure. Annual mulching is essential to successful shrubbery beds. Incorporated, 1914 The New York State Forestry Association was organized in January, 1913, for the purpose of amalgamating the allied forest interests of the State into one compact body. The Association now has a membership of over 600; it publishes a quarterly magazine devoted to the dissemination of information upon the Forestry situation within the State and plans to vastly increase its membership and influence during the coming year. Too often an organization of this kind dissipates its energies in generalities. Appreciating this fact, the New York State Forestry Association has definitely set for its goal the following: 1. The promotion of the Forestry movement in New York State The Association also sets itself on record concretely in endeavoring to achieve the following: To extend the protection from forest fires to all forest lands and to reduce the annual destruction caused by forest fires. To educate public opinion in order that a rational policy be pursued in managing the forest lands owned by the State. To extend the reforestation of idle land. To insure a future supply of timber for the wood industries. To secure more equitable taxation of forest land. To take an active part in securing proper legislation necessary for forest conservation. This work is more than an uplift movement, though we appreciate its sentimental appeal and are thankful for it. The problem is a practical one, and is right here on solid earth before us, a veritable "challenge of the future." In Time of War, Prepare for Peace! DR. EDWARD L. PARTRIDGE, A. A. ANDERSON, VOLUNTEER for the better forests Campaign. A vital feature of any program of ECONOMIC FORESIGHT Annual Membership $2.00 Contributing Membership $5.00 Life Membership $50.00 Please make remittances payable to New York State Forestry Association. Membership fee includes subscription to "NEW YORK FORESTRY" To the Secretary, NEW YORK STATE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 191 "THE WRITER," the pioneer magazine for literary workers, established in 1887, and more helpful now than ever to all who write. 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