GENERAL PRACTICE. TREES FOR SCREENS. 69 



The points from which protection is required are the north, north-east, and north- 

 west, as from these the winds are the coldest ; therefore, the shelter should approach 

 nearest on those sides, but the screen must not be nearer than 20 yards, or the height the 

 trees attain when full grown. On the east side the shelter should be double the distance, 

 and it is preferable to have it also on the west side in copse or clump order, and widen- 

 ing out so as to leave the fruit garden quite open to the south-east, south, and south- 

 west. In planting in clumps it is necessary to have double lines, so that the more 

 distant clumps shall be opposite the inner intervals or openings. These break the force 

 of winds effectually, and admit more air than does an unbroken closer screen. 



In planting for screens, tall and quick-growing trees should be chosen. Of evergreens 

 the Corsican pine ( Pinus laricio) grows fast, the timber is excellent, and less liable to 

 injury by hares and rabbits than any other conifer. Austrian pine (Pinus austrica) is 

 densely branched and thickly covered with dark, glossy, green leaves, and with the 

 preceding, succeeds in calcareous soils. These thrive at elevations and on ground where 

 quick-growing deciduous trees could not, answering admirably on the north, north- 

 east, and north-west in the bleakest situations. A belt to be effective should not be 

 less than nine rows deep, the centre one of Corsican pine alternately with larch, the 

 next larch entirely, then Corsican pine with larch again, and so on, the outside rows to 

 be of Austrian pine alternating with larch. In every other line of Corsican pine intro- 

 duce Wych or Siberian elm at every 16 feet and midway between the elms in the 

 same line plant holly. This belt is profitable from the thinnings after a few years. Larch 

 is excellent as stakes for fruit trees. Planted 4 feet apart the trees grow quickly, five 

 to seven years being necessary to secure suitable shelter for a fruit garden. Ultimately 

 the elm and the holly only would remain, forming an agreeable avenue walk, the elm, 

 by pollarding, being kept to any height or dimensions required. 



Of other deciduous trees mention must be made of the sycamore (Acer Pseudo-plata- 

 nus) and the Abele poplar (Populus alba), both very hardy and forming shelter rapidly. 

 These three the Siberian elm, sycamore, and Abele poplar are the best general 

 sheltering trees. They thrive at the highest elevations, and on low ground withstand 

 sea-breezes and endure smoky atmospheres. The Canadian poplar (Populus monilifera 

 or canadensis) and Black Italian poplar (Populus nigra) succeed in almost any soil, and 

 grow quickly. The Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra pyramidalis) is the most compact 

 of all, forming a good upright screen at once, if trees six or more feet in height are 

 planted. The common elder (Sambucus nigra) closely planted in two or more rows 



