lOO TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTflSH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of enclosing fields by wire fencing and by hedges, but from 

 carefully kept records the writer shows that on an average 

 hedges cost is. per acre, allowing 40 yards of hedge per acre 

 enclosed at 3d. per yard. The actual cost will no doubt vary 

 in different parts of the country and according to the area of the 

 fields enclosed, but apparently is. per acre is a fair and good 

 average for upkeep if the fence is in good order to start with. 

 Otherwise double the cost may be necessary for a period of 

 years. If wire fences predominate, the labour cost would be 

 less, but the material required would be considerably more. 

 This is a point of weighty importance in rural economics. The 

 former method of fencing gives constant employment to a large 

 number of men in rural districts, while the latter requires more 

 artificial material and offers less opportunity for the employment 

 of labour on the land. Though the care and management of 

 hedges primarily concern the agriculturist, still the duty fre- 

 quently devolves upon the estate forester, and no doubt this 

 able article by Mr Milne-Home will be read with interest by the 

 silviculturist. 



Modern Ensilage Practice. 



Another article in the same volume which touches upon 

 matters of interest to the forester is one by Mr A. W. Oldershaw, 

 on the subject named above. It may at first sight be difficult 

 to see the connection between modern ensilage practice and 

 forestry, but when it is explained that there are two modern 

 types of silos, namely, the modern concrete silo and the modern 

 stave silo, the relationship will become more apparent. A 

 number of modern stave silos have been erected within the last 

 few years in East Anglia, by a firm of timber merchants in 

 Norwich, who have made their manufacture a speciality. They 

 are 16 feet internal diameter, and 32 feet high, with a concrete 

 foundation. The cost has varied from ;^ioo before the war to 

 -^160 in January 191 7. The chief objection to this type of silo 

 is its possible want of durability. The oldest one in this country 

 was erected four or five years ago, so there has not been time 

 to form any definite conclusions as to their durability, from 

 British experience. But in America the modern stave silo is 

 found to last from five to twenty-five years, according to the 

 quality of the material used in its construction, and the care and 

 attention bestowed upon it. The chief advantage of the wooden 



