IRISH GARDENING, 



,85 



Forestry:— Trees for Shelter and 

 Ornament. 



Many forest trees are equally adapted for timber, 

 shelter, and ornament, while others are chiefly im- 

 portant from the fact that their characteristic 

 features render them better adapted for one ot 

 these purposes in particular, rather than a combi- 

 nation of all three. As trees adapted specially for 

 timber growing are dealt with in Leaflet No. 67. 

 it is unnecessary to enumerate them here; but it 

 iiKiv be pointed" out that even those are of great 



posed or wind-swept districts, shelter against 

 strong, or cold and dry winds is absolutely neces- 

 sary if comfortal)le quarters are to be secured for 

 cattle feeding in the open throughout the year, or 

 attractive sites provided for farm houses or 

 cottages. 



Trees adapted for providing shelter in exposed 

 positions must be capable of standing against the 

 worst gales that blow, must retain their leading 

 shoots under the influence of persistent winds, and 

 the lower branches hite in life, and must grow at 

 a fairly rapid rate under more or less favourable 

 conditions. 



value for both shelter and ornament imder many 

 conditions of soil and situation. In certain posi- 

 tions and under certain circ-unistances, however, 

 an attempt to obtain timber, shelter, and orna- 

 ment at one and the same time will often end in 

 failure. In these cases it is best to pay attentioji 

 to only one of the features mentioned, and to ))lant 

 trees best calculated to attain the principal end in 

 view. 



Trees for Shelter. 

 In the Irish climate, slielter is chiefly required 

 against cold or strong winds, or from hot sun. In 

 the latter case, shelter is only needed by grazing- 

 cattle or for dwelling-houses for a few weeks in the 

 year at most, and it is rarely, if ever, necessary 

 to plant trees specially to provide it. But in ex- 



It is obvious that very few trees can fulfil all the 

 above requirements, and produce, at the same time, 

 valuable timber, and where shelter is of paramount 

 importance, trees capable of providing it effectively 

 must be selected in preference to all others. 



The following are the principal species suitable 

 for planting where shelter against wind is the chief 

 object in view : — 



j>,„^,s-. —Whether for planting in the vicinity of 

 the sea. or on exposed ground inland, no trees give 

 more effective shelter than certain species of pines. 

 They develop a stout and strong root system, and 

 a thick, well-furnished evergreen crown, and on 

 that account are quite as effective in winter as in 

 summer. 



{To he ((infhi iifd.) ' 



