556 HEDGEROW AND FIELD TIMBER. 
of placing in lines, squares, round or oval forms, or even in single 
specimens, but as seldom as possible, these methods being highly 
objectionable and devoid of good taste, that is if we desire to 
preserve in the landscape a natural appearance. Few trees grow 
so fast, and with so little injury to others, as the Lombardy poplar ; 
but it is very impatient of confinement, and must have room and 
air where healthy well-branched specimens are desired. Cool, 
damp soil, by the side of a stream or river, is that best suited for 
perfect development of this tree, although it thrives in a fairly sue- 
cessful manner, and attains large dimensions in soil of very ordinary 
quality and without superabundance of moisture. It never requires 
pruning, and being of a strong, sturdy nature, seldom becomes 
damaged or upturned, even during the most severe weather. The 
wood, as before stated, is of but little value, although for the 
making of barrows and bottoming of carts it has acquired some 
reputation, from its being less inclined to split than to gradually 
tease away. 
The sycamore (Acer Pseudo-platanus), as a standard tree, either 
in field or fence, is worthy of attention, not only for its well-known 
ornamental character, but value of wood produced ; it, in this latter 
respect, being second to none at the present time. As a farmer’s 
tree it is also not one of the worst ; for although the branches incline 
to spread, still, by careful manipulation in the way of pruning, this 
may be corrected without to too great an extent doing injury to the 
ornamental qualities of the tree. As regards choice of soil, the 
sycamore is not fastidious, thriving well in that of very opposite 
qualities if not overcharged with moisture. The timber is clean, 
firm, fine-grained, susceptible of a high polish, and easily worked, 
qualities which specially recommend it for the use of the turner, 
sculptor, and cabinet-maker. At the present time, perhaps, no 
home-grown wood is more in request than the sycamore ; indeed, 
the supply, at least in England and Wales, is quite inadequate for 
the demand. From carefully made observations, I am now fully 
convinced that no hedgerow or field tree repays so fully the damage 
it occasions to fences and the surrounding ground as the sycamore. 
When grown singly this tree, unlike most others, is not inclined to 
produce rambling and weighty side branches, but usually throws its 
full vigour or energy to the production of timber ; and this being 
marketable, even when in a comparatively young state, still further 
enhances the value of the tree. As an example of the present 
value of single grown trees of the sycamore, I may state that but re- 
