Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 233 - May 1967
The digitisation of the Slasher was undertaken by, and images courtesy of, the Forest Research Knowledge and Information Management staff based at both the Northern Research Station in Roslin, Scotland and Alice Holt in Surrey, where the original copies are currently located.
The content summary below was very kindly compiled by Diane Birkett, Bedfordshire. See PDF attachment link below the text to view the full document. A total of over 400 issues were produced between 1948 and the final issue in 2010.
Tall Ship Masts
In Faversham, Kent, two masts made from Dean Forest 60-year old Douglas fir are being fitted to a Baltic trading schooner.
The Annual Report
Details are given of the Forestry Commissioners' Annual Report for the year ended 30th September 1966.
Promotions
Mr. R.S. Angus, West Scotland, promotion to Chief Forester.
Mr. J.D. Chisholm, North East England, promotion to Chief Forester.
Mr. W.A. Evans, South Wales, promotion to Chief Forester.
Mr. P.J. Garrow, East Scotland, promotion to Chief Forester.
Mr. M.E. McNulty, New Forest, promotion to Chief Forester.
Mr. D.M. Morgan, South Wales, Promotion to Chief Forester.
Copper Beech Planted
The planting of a copper beech tree marked the last day of service of Mr W.R. Gough, Head Forester, North East England, who retired last month after nearly 42 years with the Commission. The ceremony was attended by Conservator Mr G.E. Godwin, York, Allerston and Wykeham colleagues.
Another copper beech was planted by Foreman Mr R.N. Ruston, also with the Commission for 42 years, who is due to retire in August.
Lugging It
The term "lugg" as a measure of land, referred to in the March 1967 issue of The Slasher is known in other counties in the west of England in addition to Herefordshire.
Mr Morley Penistan, Assistant Conservator, South West England, heard the term in South Gloucestershire from a coppice-cutter giving a price for hedge-laying around his garden. The measure was an eighth of a chain being 8¼ yards linear (not surface or square).
Mr H.O. Wagg, Executive Officer, writes from Inverness suggesting the word lugg is in common use in mid-Wiltshire when referring to allotment areas. A common size of allotment being 10 or 20 lugg, the lugg was treated as a square rod, pole or perch.
Tribute
A tribute to Mr Jim Chrystall, District Officer in East Scotland, whose death was reported last month.
Obituaries
Mr J.W. Mackay, former District Officer, who retired from the Commission over 20 years ago has died aged 89 years. Before retirement, he was stationed at Drumsheugh Gardens in charge of the Peebles district.
Mr Albert Birkett, who served in the East England Conservancy for 39 years before retiring in 1965 has died.
Haldane Essay Competition
Entries are invited by the Royal Institute of Public Administration for the Haldane Essay Competition. A silver medal and £50 prize for the winner of the best essay on the specified subjects.
Wish To Be Chairman
When a group of 32 Harow sixth-formers were given 10 choices as to what they would like to be by age 50, two thirds said they wanted to go into industry. Chairmanship of multi million pound companies was a popular choice. Seven lads would like to be Chairman of the Forestry Commission.
Going to Munich
The next I.U.F.R.O Conference will be held in Munich from 4th - 9th September 1967. The Commission participants will be Mr R.F. Wood, Mr J.N.R. Jeffers and Mr Roger Lines, all representing Research; and Dr F.C. Hummel, Mr P.A. Wardle and Mr R.T. Bradley, representing Management Services.
The 1969 Exhibition
Dates for the 1969 Exhibition commemorating the Commission's 50th anniversary which will be held on the Bush Estate, near Edinburgh on the 5th - 7th June 1969.
The Springtail
In response to the report last month by Head Forester Hollowell, Slebech Nursery, South Wales, of the Springtail infestation in 1960, Mr Arthur Cadman, Deputy Surveyor, New Forest, points out that a serious Springtail attack developed in Clwyd Nursery, North Wales in the early 1950s.
Water Diviner?
Experiences of water divining are invited. Mr Morley Penistan, Assistant Conservator, South West England says one of the Commission's best diviners was the late Arthur Beard, formerly Head Forester at Dymock.
Mr Penistan discovered an aptitude for divining during a Society of Foresters tour of Clipstone, which is now incorporated with Sherwood Forest. He found a hazel twig of the right size, walked round the forest ride and before long it was twitching. The forks of the twig need to be about 15 inches long and these you hold with the palms up and fingers firmly around them.
The Once Wild West
Mr Kenneth Townsend, District Officer stationed at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, remembers the wild cattle of Lochgoilhead.
He recalls being posted to Lochgoilhead nearly 20 years ago as assistant to Mr Petrie, District Officer at Benmore.
He says "One day I walked the marches east of the Rest and Be Thankful and remember, vividly, my disturbing a golden eagle in the heather and getting a fairly close view of the wild cattle. These were in little groups of all ages and sexes amounting to 50 to 60 beasts; all stood entirely still and watched me and their regard was fixed and concentrated. I kept well clear of them but the wild setting and atmosphere are unforgotten, even to this day.
Later in the year, at a stores check, the owner and grazier arrived and beguiled us with stories, one of which involved his running for dear life after having to give a wild bull both barrels of his 12 bore and then throwing the gun away".
Congratulations: Marriages
Congratulations on the marriage of Miss Lynne Oram, Scientific Assistant at Alice Holt and Mr David Elgy, Forester attached to the Mammals Section at the Research Station.
Congratulations to Miss B.B. MacNiven, Executive Officer, Harvesting and Marketing Section at Glasgow on her recent wedding.
Congratulations: Births
Congratulations to Mr R. Affleck (Bob Affleck), Senior Executive Officer, Savile Row and Mrs Affleck (formerly Miss Joyce Priest of the Education Branch) on the birth of a second daughter, Susan Jane.
Congratulations to Mr D.W. Benoy, Executive Officer, Aberdeen and Mrs Benoy (formerly Miss D.A. Logan, Clerical Officer in the Glasgow Office) on the birth of a daughter.