106 REPORT ON HEDGEROW TREES. 



or the weeping drapery, the rounded shape, or the more graceful 

 pyramidal habit of growth — all of which contribute to give a 

 charm to the scene which it would not otherwise possess. 



Hedgerow trees also furnish a suitable shelter for cattle and 

 crops. In exposed situations, more especially, protection is re- 

 quired from the keen winds which blow in certain directions at 

 particular seasons of the year, or from those sudden and severe 

 storms that not unfrequently occur in our variable climate, and 

 it is found that such trees afford protection in a very eminent 

 degree, by their yielding so far to the fury of the blast, and thus 

 breaking its force. They are alike beneficial as a grateful shade 

 under which cattle may be sheltered from the heat of the sun in 

 warm weather ; and when, in addition to such advantages, their 

 highly ornamental character is taken into consideration, their 

 claim to our attention presents itself in a strong light. Nor 

 must it be forgotten that they are also valuable on account of 

 their timber ; but where planted only for ornamental purposes, 

 this latter consideration is not always to be estimated as an 

 element of special utility. In practice, however, where the 

 choice may be divided simply between appearance and profit, 

 such a selection can be made from the numerous varieties now 

 at command as will enable the forester easily to combine both of 

 these objects together, at least to a considerable extent. 



In the planting of hedgerow trees, therefore, let it be considered 

 what they may be forty or fifty years hence — their size, form, and 

 colour of foliage, and the effect which their appearance will then 

 produce on the landscape — their use as regards shelter, their 

 money value, &o, and such varieties as will give the best results 

 in all these respects ought to be selected. 



Those sorts which are most suitable for growing together, and 

 harmonise in shape, naturally present themselves first to our 

 notice, and of this class I would beg to name for groups, first, the 

 lime (Tilia curojxxct) and horse chestnut (dSsculus Hvp-pocas- 

 tanum). These two make excellent companions for this sort of 

 planting, the lime having beautiful yellow tinted foliage in 

 autumn, while the chestnut is of a brown colour. Both trees are 

 of a fine habit, half pyramidal in form, and afford excellent 

 shelter. As compared with some others, however, they fail as 

 regards value of timber, but the loss in this respect is fully com- 

 pensated by their magnificent appearance. 



Second group — the ash (Fraxinus excelsior), the oak (Quercus 

 Rdbur), and sycamore or plane tree {Acer Pseudo-Platanus). The 

 trees of this group are majestic and bold-looking, but less pyra- 

 midal in form than those previously named, being more rounded 

 and stiffer in appearance, giving abundant shelter, and forming 

 noble specimens as they arrive at maturity; — the ash of a bright 

 shining green decaying to yellow, the oak bright yellow turning 



