552 HEDGEROW AND FIELD TIMBER. 
they not only causing damage to the fence, but usually attaining to 
a much greater diameter of bole than the hedge’s width, thereby 
causing inconvenience, appearing out of place, and interfering with 
the proper management of the fence. Under such circumstances, 
and where the country is but thinly wooded, judicious tree-planting 
in the corners of fields may be done with advantage, and will be 
found productive of far better results than had these been intro- 
duced along the line of fences. There are, however, several species 
of trees that can both advantageously and profitably be introduced 
to such fences, as various kinds of plum; but for the general run 
of forest trees they are unsuitable. Where the old system of hedge 
formation is still in vogue, the 6 or 9 ft. in width of ground usually 
allowed can well be planted at intervals with suitable forest trees, 
these, if well managed, doing but little harm either to the fence or 
adjoining land. Having now hit, perhaps rather severely, on some 
of the disadvantages of hedgerow and field trees, we will briefly look 
to the other side of the question, and treat the subject from a purely 
ornamental as well as profitable point of view, the latter, however, 
being dealt more fully with in considering the different species 
that are suitable for the purpose. Although it must be admitted 
that the primary object of most hedges is utility, still there is no 
reason why these should not be denuded to some extent of their 
stiff, uniform appearance, and become toned down by the fringe of 
beauty imparted by the judicious use of certain trees. In doing so, 
however, let the watchword be discretion, so that the work may not 
be overdone, for unfortunately to this latter can alone be attributed 
much of the grumbling that day by day jars in the forester’s ears 
regarding the evil effects produced by immoderate quantities of 
hedgerow and field timber. That these, when suitably placed 
either in the hedgerow or open field and in limited numbers, im- 
part an otherwise unobtainable beauty and freshness to the land- 
scape, cannot be denied; and even those who entertain the most 
utilitarian ideas on the matter must confess that were the broad 
face of nature stripped of its trees, other than woodland, a dull, 
monotonous repetition of bare hill and down would be the result. 
From a sanitary point of view also individual trees or those in 
clumps are exceedingly valuable. 
Suitable Trees for Hedgerow and Field Planting.—In proceeding 
to consider the trees that have been found most suitable for hedge- 
row and field planting, four important points should always be kept 
in view. 1. That the spread of branches is, comparatively speak- 
