Mistletoe infestations in our forests were once a big deal.

Young Forester (to old hand on the gang) - "What was the first job you had with the Commission Bob?"

Bob - "Trimming mistletoe off trees during the depression."

Young Forester - "How did you do that - with a long handled saw?"

After derisive hoots of laughter came the answer. "We climbed the trees with a ladder, and with a tomahawk or axe in one hand worked our way out along the branches and cut off the mistletoe clumps. The boss wouldn't let us chop off too much branch so we had to get out as far as possible. They used to pick the lightest men for the job!"

A memory of JD Gillespie