THE FARMER'S MAGAZLNE. 



189 



Piirbeck showed that there was once there a very extensive 

 forest ; and there were many acres of land in that place 

 which might be better planted with oak than left in its pre- 

 sent shameful state. The elm required richer land ; and 

 there were many places in Somersetshire where it might be 

 grown much better than it was here. He did not agree in 

 recommending Scotch firs, but the larch firs, which he was 

 sorry not to see cultivated, instead of the inferior descrip- 

 tious. As to planting young hedges, he had had some little 

 experience ; but he always found the best way was to plant 

 a double row, keep them well weeded, and cut them the 

 second year, keeping them well sheltered witli a good 

 " frith" fence, as they required to be screened from the strong 

 south-west winds. After they had got up a good height he 

 should recommend them to be laid, and after that not to let 

 them get up, but keep them well trimmed to a point in the 

 middle, as it was the drippings from the branches above that 

 injured those below. With regard to gsrae, he thought that 

 if gentlemen were to place the confidence in their tenants 

 they did in their keepers, they would have a greater 

 amount of sport afforded them, without the enormous ex- 

 pense they now went to. 



Mr. Reader said he should be very happy to have better 

 hedges upon the hills than they could get ; but, at the same 

 time, if a man had a wide double hedge, which harboured rats, 

 rabbits, and everything that they detested, he had better 

 remove it at once and plant a new one, rather than try to im- 

 prove the old one, as he was convinced it would be less ex- 

 pense in the end. In planting a young thorn-hedge he 

 thought they must be governed in some degree by the situa- 

 tion. It was useless to attempt to get a fence on their hills, 

 if they planted the thorns upon the bank ; more particularly 

 upon an old bank, lie preferred planting in a ditch, and, in- 

 stead of clearing out, to keep filling up as the thorns grew. 

 They could thus get a better hedge upon the hills than by 

 planting on a bank. He quite agreed that there was nothing 

 like fencing them well, and getting them up as quickly as pos- 

 sible. With respect to timber, he was not troubled with trees 

 in his hedgerows, as they could hardly get one to grow on his 

 hills; and, if it did, the south-west winds would shear it very 

 close without his troubling about it. He believed there was a 

 great deal of waste land in this county that could be planted 

 with great advantage, not only to Scotch firs, but in some 

 cases to oak. He noticed that some years ago Dr. Bain 

 planted some oaks upon clay at Heffelton, and they had grown 

 exceedingly well. Where the land was not so strong they 

 might plant firs, mixed with larch, which he understood was 

 for some purposes quite as useful when it got old. He was 

 told that if they got a good fir, charred it, and put it in the 

 ground upside-down,it would last as long as some oak ; but if put 

 m the tame way as it grew, it would aot last so long. If timber 

 was grown more upon the waste lauds it would be far preferable 

 to having trees upon farms, especially on arable lands. He also 

 advocated the destruction of all gorse upon land where it 

 could be converted into anything like arable land, as it was a 

 great harbour for rabbits and rats. With respect to rabbits, 

 he had nothing to complain of, personally ; but he knew an 

 instance of two adjoining parishes, in one of which the game 

 was protected bj' the tenant-farmer, and there was plenty of 

 sport, while in the other, where it was not protected at all, 

 there was scarcely a hare to be found, and very little winged 

 game, as they were all taken by the poachers. Now, the 

 difference in the charge to the county lor the punishment of 

 offenders, and to the union for keeping their wives and fami- 

 lies, was more than 500 per cent, between those two parishes. 

 He thought that, if all the evils of the present system could 



be laid before the lauded proprietors, they would at once see 

 the necessity for some alteration. 



The Chairman offered a few remarks in support of the 

 great damage done by trees in the fields and hedgerows. He 

 liked to see trees in the proper place, such as ornamental trees 

 in a gentleman's park, but they should not be in the corn- 

 field; for the damage done was far greater than the value of 

 the timber, ten times over. He also commented on the in- 

 convenience of the old double hedges, which were so crooked 

 that men could not plough or drill properly, and stated that 

 his plan was to remove thera aud plant young ones parallel 

 to each other, so that the drill would come square. He did 

 not agree with planting fences iu a ditch, but found his to an- 

 swer best upon two " clods" and a " turn-clod." A plan 

 which he liked was to put a few black thorns among the white 

 thorns, two or three in a lug. The latter did not stand many 

 years, and as they went out the black thorns would run along 

 and occupy their places. He liked to see gentlemen have a 

 good day's sport ; but it was the rabbits that the farmers of 

 this county had to complain of, and, if they were destroyed, he 

 believed there would be double the quantity of winged game. 



Mr. Jackson afterwards made a few observations in reply, 

 commenting on the many points in which the members of the 

 club agreed with him, and concluded by proposing the following 

 resolution, which was unanimously adopted : 



" That all timber required for the use of an estate should be 

 grown in plantations, a large portion of which may be raised 

 on waste lands ; that hedges for the division of lands should 

 be according to the size of the farms, say from 20 to 30 acre 

 pieces generally, and are a necessary shelter for stock ; and 

 that they should be formed of quick thorn, and be as straight 

 and narrow as possible to form a fence against stock, without 

 being a harbour for rabbits, rats, &c., one of the greatest an- 

 noyances the farmer has to contend against." 



The Chairman then proposed and Mr. Lillington 

 seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. Jackson for the very able 

 manner in which he had treated the subject, and the same 

 having been accorded with acclamation, the formal proceedings 

 of the evening terminated. 



THE FARMER. 



A farmer sat in his easy chair, 



Drawn out 'ncath the maple's shade, 



Gazing the while on the verdant lawn, 

 While his laughing children played. 



'Twas the sunset hour, his work was done ; 



And now that his toil was o'er, 

 He was resting his wearied form, beneath 



The old tree at the door. 



His eye glanced o'er the spreading fields. 

 O'er the meadow's green and fair. 



And bis heart was filled with gratitude 

 That God had placed him here. 



Kind hearts were in that happy home ; 



Sweet children, glad and gay. 

 Cheered the good farmer's heart, and drove 



His every care away. 



This was the home of happiness, 



Joy's dear aiding place ; 

 Contentment beamed in every glance, 



Shone forth in every face. 



Oh ! give to me the farmer's life. 



Its toils and pleasures too, 

 And I will leave the town, with all 



Its bustling scenes, to you. 



