560 HEDGEROW AND FIELD TIMBER. 
are simple of erection, being made of small larch poles of not less 
than 8 ft. in height, driven into the ground in a circle around the 
tree, and at a distance of say 18 in. from it. Near the top they 
are fastened by nails to a hoop of pliable wood, or, as is the case 
here, interlaced and firmly united by strong fencing wire. Wooden 
erections are, perhaps, preferable to iron hurdles for fencing in 
hedgerow trees, as they seldom require renewing, for by the time 
the fence has decayed the trees will, in most cases, be out of harm’s 
way. Park or field trees may with advantage, and where fancy so 
points out, be guarded from the depredations of horses, cows, and 
sheep by any of the iron hurdles now commonly in use for this 
purpose, but where first expense is looked at, a wooden erection, 
but of better material and more neatly finished than that last 
described, will answer the purpose equally as well. 
Pruning and After-Management.—For at least the first twenty 
years after planting, careful and regular pruning of hedgerow and 
field timber should in all cases be attended to, bearing in mind 
that timely attention in this way will alone obviate the necessity 
for heavy prunings at any future stage of the tree’s growth. On 
early and judicious pruning to the classes of timber in question 
also, to a greater extent, depends whether or not damage is caused 
by these to their surroundings ; for itis well known that if branches 
are allowed to ramify at will, greater injury to the underlying 
herbage must be committed than where timely pruning and shorten- 
ing of all straggling branches has been attended to. Early summer 
pruning—say in the month of June—is to be recommended, as at 
that time, owing to the active circulation of the sap, the wounds 
heal up much quicker than when the operation is performed at any 
other season of the year. The pruning should be performed by a 
person who is thoroughly conversant with the work, haphazard 
cutting and hewing by an inexperienced hand, and at any season, 
being most injurious. If the young trees have been well cared for 
whilst in the nursery border, little or no attention will be required 
for at least three years from the time of planting out ; but after 
that date they should be looked over every second or third year 
until an age of say twenty years are attained, after which they may 
have their course, but a good deal will, of course, depend on the 
particular species of tree operated upon. As the great object in 
pruning both hedgerow and field trees is to develop a valuable 
main stem, which is only to diverge into branches at a given height 
from the ground, and to prevent the overgrowth of straggling 
