688 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



the outer side only requires to be faced with sods ; the hedge plants being set in a rough 

 shelving bank, on the inner side. 



4234. The species of hedge woods, proper for mound fences, depends entirely on the soil 

 and situation. On mounds of bad soil, in a bleak situation, the furze alone affords 

 much shelter, and a good fence. The sides being kept pruned, so as to show a close firm 

 face rising above the top of the bank, it is a secure barrier, even against the wilder 

 breeds of Welsh sheep. The beech is commonly planted in high exposed situations ; 

 and in places more genial to the growth of wood, the hazel, the ash, and the oak are the 

 ordinary plants of hedge mounds. The willow tribe have a quality which recommends 

 them, in situations where they will florish : they grow freely from cuttings, or truncheons 

 set in the ground ; whereas to secure the growth of ordinary coppice woods, rooted plants 

 are required. The rock-willow (Salix caprea) will grow in high and dry situations. 



4235. On thin-soiled stoney surfaces, tall mounds are difficult to raise ; and there stone 

 walls axe not only built at a small expense, but are convenient receptacles for the stones 

 with which the soil is encumbered. But a stone wall, unless it be carried up to an inor- 

 dinate height, at a great expense, is useless as a skreen ; may be said to be dangerous 

 as such, in a bleak exposed situation, for as soon as the drifting snow has reached the top 

 of the wall, on the windward side, it pours over it, and inevitably buries the sheep which 

 may be seeking for shelter on the leeward side. Hence, in a situation where shelter is 

 required, it is necessary that a stone fence should be backed with a skreen plantation. 



4236. To plant trees for shade may in some cases be requisite for agricultural purposes. 

 Where this is the case, close plantations are seldom desirable, a free circulation of air 

 being necessary to coolness ; therefore trees with lofty stems, and large heads, pruned to 

 single stems are preferable : the oak, elm, chestnut, and beech, for thick shade ; the plane, 

 acacia, and poplar, for shade of a lighter degree. 



4237. u4n example of sheltering a hill farm b^/ plantation, and at the same time im- 

 proving the shape and size of fields, shall next be given. No farming subject affords better 

 opportunities of introducing hedge- rows, and strips of planting than hill-farms. The one 

 under consideration {fg. 551.) is a small estate farmed by its owner ; it consists of nearly 

 370 acres ; and is situated in an elevated, picturesque part of a central English county. 

 The soil is partly a flinty loam or chalk, and partly a strong rich soil, incumbent on clay. 

 The fields {1 to 34^, are very irregular, bounded by strips of timber and copse. By the 

 alterations and additions proposed {fig. 552.), all the most hilly and distant spots will be 

 kept in permanent pasture ; and the exposed and abrupt places, angles, &c. planted chiefly 

 with oaks for copse, and beech for timber and shelter. 



Chap. VI. 

 Of the Execution of Imptrovements. 



4238. The mode in which improvements are executed is a point of very considerable 

 importance, and may materially affect their success as well as their expense. We shall 

 first consider the different modes of execution, and next offer some general cautions to 

 be held in view in undertaking extensive works. 



Sect. I. Of the different Modes of procuring the Execution of Improvements on Estates. 



4239. The necessary/ preliminary to the execution of an improvement, is a calculation 

 <of tiie advantages to arise from it, and an estimate of the expense of carrying it into ef- 

 fect, if the former^ taken in their full extent, do not exceed the latter, the proposed 

 alteration cannot, in a private view, be considered as an improvement. The next point to 

 be ascertained is the practicability, under the given circumstances of a case, of executing 

 the plan under consideration. There are three things essential to the due execution of an 

 improvement. 1st, an undertaker, or a person of skill, leisure, and activity, to direct 

 the undertaking ; 2d, men and animals with which to prosecute the work ; 3d, money, 

 or other means of answering the required expenditure. A deficiency in any one of 

 these, may, by frustrating a well planned work after its commencement, be the cause, 

 not only of its failure, but of time, money, and credit being lost. Improvements may 

 be executed by the proprietor, either directly, gradually, by economical arrangements, or 

 remotely to ascertain extent, by moral and intellectual means. 



4240. To execute improvements directly, all that is necessary is to employ a steward or 

 manager of adequate abilities and integrity, and supply him with the requisite plans, 

 men, and money. This will generally be found the best mode of forming new roads, 

 new plantations, opening new quarries or mineral pits, altering the course of waters, 

 and all such creations or alterations as are not included in the improvement of farm lands. 



4241. Top?'ockre the gradual execution of imj)rovements onfar?n landsj various arrange- 



