WIRE-NETTING 



221 



loppings now and again, utilising saplings unlikely to become 

 profitable. 



WIRE-NETTING. Hares and rabbits are connoisseurs in respect 

 of newly introduced trees and shrubs, and will roam under the 

 most favouring conditions of food supply, being epicurean in taste, 

 rarely failing to test newly planted, even of existing species or 

 varieties, in quality of shoot and bark : therefore it is necessary 

 to protect the stems of standard trees, and the whole plant in the 

 case of bushes. The netting for this purpose should be 3 ft. 

 high or wide, i in. mesh for stems, and ij in. mesh for bushes. 

 The girdle for standard trees must be large enough to allow for 

 several years' growth, and the enclosure for bushes be so far from 

 the growths as to admit of at least one season's development, 

 enlarging the enclosure from time to time until the circle reaches 

 6 ft. in diameter, when the tree or bush requiring more room, 

 the netting may be dispensed with, as the stem will then, unless 

 of particular acceptance, be hare and rabbit proof, or may be 

 protected by a " smear," while the leading growths are beyond 

 reach; and though the lateral branches may be nibbled, the tree, 

 even a conifer, will not be materially disfigured as a specimen. 



FIG. 125. BOULTON & PAUL'S GALVANIZED WIRE-NETTING. 



For masses or clumps, galvanized wire-netting 3 ft. wide, 

 1 1 in. mesh, fixed with wooden stakes, and with the lower edge 

 resting on the ground, proves effective as a temporary protection 

 for young trees against hares and rabbits. A neater fence, Fig. 125, 

 is made with wrought-iron stakes. Hares seldom bound over 

 3 ft. high netting for feeding purposes, but often do so for " kind- 

 ling," we having known enclosed clumps thus selected, evidently 

 for safety of the leverets. Rabbits also do not climb over such 

 fences if it be given a leaning outwards, or even burrow under 

 the wire in cases of isolated specimen or clumps here and there 

 in ornamental coverts : hence the netting serves for the needful 

 protection until the shrubs and trees are out of danger. In snow- 

 time, however, when the netting from drifted snow may unduly 

 expose the trees to attack, stems and growths above snow-line, 

 and within reach of hares and rabbits, must be dressed with an 



