558 NEDGEROW AND FIELD TIMBER. 
not in full grown trees spread to a greater distance than from 10 ft. 
to 12 ft., while the main tap-root descends to 5 ft. or 6 ft., thus 
not to an unusual extent poverising the soil in its immediate 
vicinity. For several purposes lime wood is much in request, such 
as for “ bottoming ” carts, in the making of waggon breaks, packing- 
boxes, saddlers’ and shoemakers’ cutting boards, and, most im- 
portant of all, for carving, it for this latter purpose being excelled 
by no other home-grown timber. 
It bears trimming and pruning well, the lower stem-branches 
being removable without in any way injuring the tree’s health, or, 
if carefully performed, marring its beauty. Grown as a hedgerow 
or field tree, the lime will require to have all suckers removed from 
its base, these soon forming a dense jungle of underwood if not 
attended to, and which considerably detract from the tree’s appear- 
ance, as well as draw stores of food which would be more profitably 
deposited elsewhere. 
Amongst coniferous trees there are few suitable for the end in 
question if we except the larch and Scots fir. The larch as an 
ornamental tree is, however, much neglected, this being attributable 
to an erroneous impression that the tree is of too stiff and cold an 
appearance either for standing singly or giving effect to the land- 
scape. Nothing can, however, be more averse to facts, as, when 
placed so that its fine form is seen to advantage, few deciduous 
trees are more picturesque than the larch, or offer a better contrast 
to the ordinary run of our forest trees. It also occasions less 
damage to the undergrowing herbage than most trees, while, at the 
same time, it enriches the soil to a great extent by the annual 
shedding of its leaves. As regards value of timber produced it 
would be superfluous for us to speak, while as a hardy tree that 
thrives under a variety of circumstances it can compete favourably 
with most others. 
The Scots fir, whether viewed in a useful or ornamental capacity, 
has much to recommend it for extensive planting, more particularly 
in high-lying and exposed situations. When judiciously placed no 
tree is more picturesque than the Scots fir, while few are better 
adapted for producing shelter, or more suitable for planting singly 
or in clumps where from exposure few other trees would succeed. 
As a hedgerow or field tree the Scots fir is not to be despised ; 
indeed for planting in the exposed corners of fields that are to be 
met with on most farms no tree is, perhaps, better adapted. As it 
usually rises to a great height without branches, it cannot be con- 
