HEDGE-ROW TIMBER. Ill 



else, some effect upon those below them, it does 

 happen that, in this respect at least, the middle 

 classes are wiser in their day and generation than 

 their superiors, the Timber upon small estates 

 being generally taken down at an earlier period 

 than on large ones. There is indeed among the 

 higher orders of course with a few exceptions 

 a prejudice against felling Timber, older than the 

 oldest Timber Tree in existence ; and as strong 

 as the most enthusiastic admirer of the beauties 

 of landscape scenery can desire it to be : and so 

 far is this feeling carried, that, by many, Timber 

 of the most unsightly character, and in situations 

 where it can be associated with no idea connected 

 with the scenery, is religiously spared, and spared 

 long after it has ceased to be either useful or orna- 

 mental where it stands. 



Having ventured thus strongly to- point out 

 the loss to proprietors, I will now show, by an 

 example, how the community is affected by the 

 disinclination to fell one particular kind of timber ; 

 viz., the Ash. This tree is hardly ever cut down 

 before it becomes exceedingly tender; and as 

 almost every agricultural implement is either 



