Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 16 - April 1949
The scanned images of the Slasher were produced by and courtesy of the Forest Research Data and Information Team staff based at Roslin, where some of the original copies are located. The Forestry England Information Knowledge Management Team and New Forest Heritage made available copies of The Slasher from their collections. Brian Mahony of the FC Retirement Association devised and coordinates the Slasher Project and has been instrumental in locating many missing editions and coordinating the searches to locate all the earlier publication numbers.
The content summary below was again very kindly compiled by Diane Birkett, Bedfordshire. See PDF attachment link below the text summary to view the full document. A total of over 420 issues or publications were produced between January 1948 and the final publication in 2010.
The Agricultural Show Programme
The Commission is expected to participate in the following shows in 1949: -
Anglesey County Exhibition, Llangefni (April 20-23) (exhibit being prepared by Gwydyr School);
Devon County, Newton Abbot (May 10-12);
Oxfordshire Agricultural Society, Oxford (May 19-21);
Warwickshire, Stratford-on-Avon (May 25-26);
Bath and West, Bristol (June 1-4);
Cheshire, Chester (June 8-9);
Three Counties, Worcester (June 14-16);
Royal Counties, Reading (June 22-25);
Royal Norfolk (June 29-30);
Royal English, Shrewsbury (July 5-8);
Sussex County, Hassocks (July 13-14);
Tunbridge Wells and South Eastern Counties, Tunbridge Wells (July 19-20);
Yorkshire, Wakefield (July 26-28);
Royal Welsh, Swansea (August 10-13);
Royal Lancs., Blackpool (August 16-19).
In addition, it is hoped that it will be possible to exhibit at one or two one-day shows in Wales after the close of the main programme. It is also proposed that we shall provide an exhibit at the meeting in Newcastle in September of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
This year, S.J. Betterton, Foreman at Hamsterley, NE(E) will be in charge of the exhibit and last season's "travelling circus" experiment, which proved successful, will be repeated. Foreman Betterton is a Rugby footballer of no mean ability. He has been a reserve for England, and of late has been playing for Darlington. When at the Dean School he played for Gloucester.
Exhibits were staged at 15 shows in 1948. At the larger events such as the Bath and West, 800 to 1,000 people passed through the forestry pavilion each hour.
Turntable Topics
Last month the Social Club of the English Directorate spent an enjoyable evening listening to a trial run of a programme of recorded music, presented by Conservator C.A. Connell who designed and constructed the amplifying equipment. The Club hopes to arrange regular programmes.
Eric Lewis wishes to hear from anyone willing to present a programme.
Presentation to Sir William Taylor
At Headquarters on Wednesday, March 23rd, Lord Robinson presented Sir William Taylor with a desk, a gift from the staff of the Commission, to mark Sir William's retirement from the office of Director General at the end of June last year. The ceremony took place before a representative gathering of the staff, including members of the Whitley Council.
An Education Officer’s Plea
Education Officer R.J. Streets, of Lynford Hall, asks us to state that it was not he who nearly won the School's table tennis tournament (The Slasher, last month) but Forester Instructor T.L. Jenkins.
Mr Lewin Reminisces
Mr Walter Lewin, who recently retired (The Slasher, February), thanks friends who contributed to his presentation. He joined the Finance Branch on 8th August 1920 and refers to an occasion when the late Mr. S.J. Honywill asked him to count 1,500 Sitka spruce seeds, and to make up lots of 50 seeds on strips of blotting paper, place them in an incubator, and keep a record of how many seeds germinated in 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. He was relieved when Mr Guillebaud loaned him a magnifying glass.
More About Unusual Hobbies
Mr M.V. Laurie, Chief Research Officer, is a glider enthusiast, often flying from Dunstable during weekends. He tells of the virtues of sky-riding, from the early stages of learning, to the more advanced phases of sustained soaring flight in sailplanes. There is no roaring engine, Just smooth silent flight spiced with the continuous excitement of searching for invisible up-currents sufficiently powerful to overcome the normal rate of 'sink' of the machine. These up-currents can be found over the windward faces of hills and as rising columns of warmer air on hot days, or when meteorological conditions are suitable. They can be found under cumulus clouds when the latter are forming, or in the front of squalls. Then, in the most exhilarating fashion of all, they may be found in the dark interior of thunder clouds and may then have a lift of 50 feet per second, or more. Such clouds have to be approached with great respect, and only entered if one is certain that one's parachute is ready for use, for they have been known to break up sailplanes. But there is no more, glorious sensation, after having been thrown around in the inside of such clouds, suddenly to burst out at the top some thousands of feet above the earth into brilliant sunshine and calm smooth air.
There are several methods by which one gets into the air. One may be catapulted off the top of a hill with an elastic rope, or towed behind an aeroplane to the desired height. The commonest method, however, is to be pulled up on the end of a long cable by a high-speed winch; a good winch with 3,000 feet of cable can "kite" a glider up to 1,000 feet or more, according to the strength of the wind. As for coming down again, every landing is a forced landing and has to be carefully planned and the approach accurately judged.
"I am frequently asked," adds Mr Laurie, "if gliding is dangerous. It is not more so than, say, ski-ing or sailing or even hunting, and I think one gets more for one's money. Is it difficult? No. Anyone who can ride a bicycle and has normally quick reaction can learn to fly a glider safely — although to fly one really well, and to remain in the air in difficult conditions, requires much practice and skill.
There is a great deal of hard work to be done on the ground in getting others air-borne and there are frequent disappointments when the weather is not 'soarable', but once the delights of soaring flight have been tasted, gliding becomes an absorbingly fascinating sport. And, incidentally, it is the cheapest form of flying".
The Work They Do (No. 10)
Details of the work of the Acquisition and Disposal Branch of the English Directorate. In charge is Conservator E. Wynne Jones, who is also responsible for the control of affairs relating to dedication and private woodlands. His technical "lieutenant" is Divisional Officer R.H. Smith, who works from the Directorate office in Cadogan Square, S.W.1.
Located with the branch and in the same building are District Officers J.A. Bamford and J.F. Wilson. The pursuit of afforestable land is also carried on in the provinces by the Acquisitions Officers attached to Conservancies. Also in the section are F.C. Baldwin, A.F. Carvosso and W.J. Henry and they liaise with R.A. Axtell of the Directorate Drawing Office, who is responsible for the maps illustrating acquisition reports and completion of the actual deeds.
Forest Cameo
An area of 5,993 acres of heathland, bare except for a few plantations of conifer and hardwood, and situated near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, was acquired in the year of King George V's Silver Jubilee and named The King's Forest.
To commemorate the occasion (writes District Officer D. Mackay) a small monument was erected and the planting of Queen Mary's Avenue (an avenue of beech) was commenced, this following the course of the Icknield Way, a Roman road running through the forest for about four miles. Near the centre of the forest the monogram G R was laid out in beech, covering an area of some thirteen acres.
The soil is sand overlying chalk, which made an ideal rabbit warren, but this was cleared and planted by 1941. In June of that year, the area (except for one compartment which included the beginning of Queen Mary's Avenue) was used by the War Department for training purposes. On the removal of the fences, an army of tanks invaded the area, together with a second army of rabbits which were almost equally destructive in wiping out most of the younger plantations and severely damaging the remainder.
The War Department left the forest in 1947, but the rabbits had no intention of doing likewise and there has been a continuous war ever since, with Forester J.J. Smith in charge of operations. All known methods of warrening have been tried, and from April, 1947, warrening and planting have been receiving priority; the result has been that up to last December 2,000 acres had been cleared by a catch of 43,000 rabbits, and 1,032 acres had been replanted. Forester Smith hopes to be rid of the pests within five years of the date the Army departed.
Preparing for Northerwood Courses (Behind the Scenes)
The Chief Education Officer and one of the lecturers-to-be met at a small private hotel in a large city, to discuss arrangements for a course, after which they adjourned to a tavern. On their return to the hotel, the lecturer retired early to bed, but sleep was not forthcoming. He lay and then decided to seek a glass of water from the bathroom. Since all outside was in darkness he left his door ajar, with the light shining out across the landing. But as he retraced his steps from the bathroom he heard his door shut and lock. Clad only in pyjamas, he went in search of a bell to summon assistance and a spare key, but a detailed examination of the bathroom, dining room and lounge, all now dark and deserted, revealed the dismal fact that there were no bells. He spotted a latch key still inserted in the bedroom door of the Chief Education Officer, who had wisely left his key on the outside. "Sorry to wake you, old man," said the lecturer. "But have you got a bell? I've got shut out of my room." The Chief Education Officer muttered drowsily something about having a spare bed but this, as far as he could remember, was devoid of any belle. There was, of course, no bell, either. Wearily descending once more to the ground floor, the lecturer hammered loudly on the front door. An elderly woman popped up from the depths below and was firmly convinced that here, at last, was the lodger for whom she was supposed to be waiting up - but why should he arrive in pyjamas? Just how the wretched man explained the situation is nobody's business, but it all goes to show what a lot has to be gone through before these Northerwood courses can take place. (Editor’s note: The only clue to the lecturer's identity are the initial W.A.C.)
Such is Fame
Mr. Sam Costa, of "Much Binding in the Marsh" radio fame, announced in a recent broadcast that certain operations of a rather exacting silvicultural nature had been performed on the mycorrhizal appendage normally adorning his upper lip. It seems that this was in urgent need of trimming and brashing and, as he announced, it appeared desirable to solicit the assistance of the Department. It is a matter for speculation as to which Conservancy or Division had the honour of performing this highly sensitive operation. There is also the problem of deciding to which Head of Accounts it should be charged. For the guidance of Conservancy Accountants, any future operation of this kind should be charged to E 14(c).
Flash From Friston
Robert Stewart, Forest Worker, Friston Forest, SE(E), reports on the enthusiastic members of a Savings Group organised by Forester G. Holter. In a short period of time, small savings have amounted to a considerable sum.
A huge bonfire was made in the nearby village of West Dean, and children, parents and friends were entertained by the Forester, who also provided refreshments and fireworks; thus Friston workers and West Dean followed the example of the adjacent and ancient town of Lewes in celebrating "Bonfire Night". Lewes, incidentally, each year stages one of the finest "Guy Fawkes" shows in the whole country.
Transfers
A.W.L. Guile, District Officer, Cardiff, transferred to Pembrey, S(W);
W.C. Wilkins, District Officer, Cardiff, transferred to Tintern, S(W);
F. Weston, District Officer, Rushden, E(E) temporarily transferred to Tealby, E(E);
G. Small, Forester, Glendaruel, W(S), transferred to Morangie, N(S);
W. Deal, Forester, Holmsley, New, temporarily transferred to Kinver, NW(E);
J.A. Hendrie, Forester, Lynford, E(E), transferred to Watlington, E(E);
A. Mackay, Forester, Morangie, N(S), transferred to Kilcoy, N(S);
W.B. Harbin, Forester, Coed-y-Brenin, N(W), transferred to Chopwell, NE(E);
R. Moffatt, Foreman, Research, Glenrigh, transferred to Research, Fort William;
E.J. Acott, Foreman, Apethorpe, E(E), transferred to Yardley, E(E);
D.J. Hughes, Foreman, Kershope, NW(E) transferred to Gisburn NE(E);
R.E. Young, Foreman, Glasfynydd, S(W), transferred to Crychan, S(W);
H. Macrae, Foreman, North Strome, N(S), transferred to Isle of Raasay, N(S);
D.B. Lloyd, Foreman, Tintern, S(W), transferred to Hay, S(W);
C.J. Cottrell, Clerk of Works, Blengdale, NW(E), transferred to Mortimer, NW(E);
G. Hooper, Clerk of Works, Mortimer, transferred to Walcot, NW(E);
Miss J.E. Tucker, C.O., Office of Director, England, transferred to Bristol.