248 MR. FORSYTH OM GAME PRESERVES AND FENCES. 



thereby save corn, and preserve the character of these creatures 

 from being branded as thieves. In short, it would be an easy 

 matter to wean labouring men from barley-juice by giving them 

 good wine and fruit in exchange for it ; and if game got fruits 

 and seeds of ligneous plants at home, or in other words, under 

 the same bush that they roost in, they would seldom expose them- 

 selves to the dangers of the open field. The hedgerow then, or 

 division between fields, according to my views of the article of 

 whatever plants it may be composed, is to be considered as a bar- 

 rier against the intrusion of animals, or in other words, a fence. 

 But besides fencing, I have two other equally important 

 functions for it to perform, namely, to shelter the inclosed and 

 the adjoining crop, and to produce either fine fruit, from which 

 the farmer shall obtain a regular vintage gathering, or good 

 fodder for cattle. The gooseberry, currant, and raspberry, may 

 be given as examples of the sorts of native fruits that I propose 

 to cultivate ; and I would fain bring into notice the valuable 

 but neglected bramble, as worthy of the greatest consideration 

 for the making of wine : it holds up its clusters to our view year 

 after year, as the vine of our own country, and tears us with its 

 spines, as if to remind us of the undeserved neglect of its merits. 

 I have tasted blackberries here on a south bank, hanging over 

 the Churnet, that were equal to the much esteemed mulberry, 

 which they very much resembled, and when bruised gave a juice 

 that only required preserving to yield good wine.* The plant, 

 moreover, has length of stem and strength of spine to make 

 hedges and entanglements to any degree of prickly closeness 

 that may be desired. Even the common Barberry is infinitely 

 superior to the Thorn as a hedge-plant, growing as it does to a 

 moderate height, and very compact and spiny, and yielding 

 plenty of fruit, that can with care and skill be made available 

 in domestic economy. Berberis Aquifolium, as has been already 

 observed, is everything that could be desired, being evergreen 

 and of a dwarf close habit of growth, equal to the holly in prickly 

 foliage, and superior to the holly in yielding large and abundant 

 blossoms, succeeded by valuable fruits. As proofs of this latter 

 statement I may mention the fact, that Lord Vernon planted 

 thousands of these at Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire, and under 

 the able management of Mr. Mitchell, these grew beautifully 

 and fruited to such an extent that the fruit was gathered in 

 basketfuls to feed poultry. But this plant, owing to its ex- 

 pense, could not at this time be introduced into ordinary 

 samples of farming, but is admirably suited for the ferme ornee, 



* Mr. Cooper advertises a patent process of bottling fruit, to preserve such 

 as strawberries for five years. 



