1^00* Danger attetiding Trees about Corn Fields. i6^ 



TO THE CONDUCTORS OF THE FARMEr's MAGAZINE. 

 On the Danger attinding Trees about Corn Fields.' 



Gentlemen, 



I have read your Firft Number with great pleafure, 

 and I hope it will anlwer your intention of being both 

 uleful and entertaining to the public. 



If you think the following obfervations deferve a place, 

 you may infert them when convenient. I am one of 

 many who have fuffered feverely, this laft harveft, ia 

 confequence of my corn fields being furrounded with 

 high trees and hedges : A more diftrefling fituation to 

 the hufbandman can hardly be conceived. What muft 

 he fuffer, to fee a great portion of his produce going to 

 deftru^lion, which cannot be fared by any exertion, or 

 additional expence on his part .'' How much more for- 

 tunate is he, whofe corn fields are open to the free cir- 

 culation of air, which is equally beneficial to the health 

 of plants and animals ? It is only in open fields you 

 find grain alike in colour and fize, well ripened and 

 completely plump •, whilft grain, raifed on inclofed fields, 

 will be found ill- coloured, fmall, and unequal. In fhort, 

 a corn farmer, who has his fields furrounded with high 

 trees and hedges, has to encounter great difficulties every 

 feafon of the year. 



I have mentioned his woful fituation in Harvefb ; In 

 Spring, the high flielter prevents his grounds from dry- 

 ing ; of courfe, he is kept back from ploughing and fow- 

 ing: In Winter, when the fnow drift is blowing, the 

 trees and hedges prepare a refling place for large quan- 

 tities of fnow, which frequently remain all Winter, 

 and ftop his Spring work : In bummer, his corns are 

 liable to mildew, and to many other difeafes, for want 

 of air ; and how much does he fufFer from large flocks 

 of fmall birds eating the crop ? But he who has his 

 fields inclofed with hedges without trees, and properly 

 divided in a due proportion to the extent of his farm, 

 may enjoy all the advantages of reftoring his exhaufted 

 land by reft and pafture, and, when in a corn rotation^ 

 he can cut down his hedges, and fecure a free circu- 

 lation of air. A moderate portion of fhelter, when 



grounds 



