322 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
charge, but from 1s. to 2s. 6d. per burned acre should cover the 
total cost. 
Another kind of brushwood difficult to deal with is whins and 
sloes. Probably the most effective way of removing these is by 
horse-power, and is carried out in the following manner :—A chain 
is passed round each bush or clump, and is run through an “eye” 
link in the same manner as is done when dragging logs of wood. 
Two lads with a tractable horse would be able to clear a consider- 
able portion of land in a week ; but much would, of course, depend 
upon the thickness of the plants upon the ground, and no estimate 
can be given. Suffice it to say that the plan is found much cheaper 
and more effectual than grubbing by mattock, not costing one- 
fourth the price of the latter. Grass, particularly on damp ground, 
is almost an impossible obstacle to get rid of. The only effectual 
way to prevent choking is turfing (7.e., paring), but such grassy 
swards are seldom met with in situations forming the basis of this 
subject. 
Shelter.—In very exposed places this may be afforded in several 
ways, either artificially or naturally. By artificial I mean raising 
turf-dykes, or mous, such as those already mentioned; and by 
natural is meant shelter obtained by planting hardy trees in such 
positions as to break the wind. Plant either in narrow belts or in 
clumps throughout the entire area—elder, plane, mountain pine, 
and, especially in maritime districts, sea buckthorn; and except 
near the outside of the plantation, where the shelter must remain, 
in such a manner as to be removable in the course of the after- 
management, so as to form roads and shooting drives. Shelter- 
belts or clumps should be planted several years previous to planting 
the crop, so that they may have a hold of the ground before the 
young plants are put in. Artificial shelter by ridges or dykes is 
liable to serious objection, from the tendency of snow to form deep 
wreaths to their leeward, and thus large areas of plantation may be 
crushed down, as is often seen in upland districts. If hardy 
trees are planted, and whin and broom sown on the ridges, it is 
surprising what shelter is obtained. Another very good natural 
shelter is the “wattle” fence placed on exposed positions. These 
structures are easily and cheaply made by driving a line of stakes 
on the ridges, or on exposed situations, about a yard apart, taking 
birch, hazel, or any kind of brushwood, and weaving it roughly 
between the stakes and leaving it quite open to let the wind pass 
through, for otherwise the fences would be liable to destruction 
