POLLARDING TREES. 267 



places, to a red buffy hue, when at the same time the 

 beautiful green wings of the small oak-moth (phalaena 

 viridana) are in no way altered by it. But notwithstand- 

 ing these circumstances, it will, I apprehend, be con- 

 sidered as a very useful preservative, and save many 

 specimens from destruction which other means usually 

 fail of effecting. 



There are not many of our rural practices, that de 

 serve more the disapprobation of the^landed proprietor 

 than that of pollarding trees. " It is an evil under the 

 sun, and common among men." Here it is universal. 

 This system of cutting off the heads of the young trees 

 in the hedge-rows is resorted to by the farmer for the 

 purpose of forcing them, thus deprived of their leaders, 

 to throw out collateral shoots, serving for stakes for the 

 fences, and for firewood. The purposes are effected ; but 

 of all hopes of timber, or profit to the proprietor, there 

 is an end. No trees suffer more in this respect than the 

 ash. Prohibitions against mangling trees, in agreements, 

 are usual ; but, with some exceptions in regard to oak, 

 little attention seems paid to the covenant, as is ob- 

 vious on the mos cursory view of the country in any 

 direction ; whereas the ash is riot a less valuable tree, 

 from its thriving more universally in all situations, and 

 becoming saleable in a shorter period. One or two gene- 

 rations must pass before an oak should be felled ; but 

 the ash becomes useful wood while its more respected 

 companion is but a sapling. These prohibitions should 

 not simply be engrossed on the parchment, but the 

 agent ought strictly to notice any infringement; and 

 young ash trees should be more especially guarded, 

 because they are the most likely to suffer, from their pro- 

 ducing the greatest quantity of lop in the shortest time. 

 The injury done by this practice to the present landlord 

 and his successors is beyond estimation, as the numbers 

 destroyed, and the vigor of their growth, must be first 

 known; but there is not a farm of any extent from 

 which hundreds of ash trees might not have been felled, 

 had their growth been permitted, making an annual 

 return ; whereas nothing can be obtained now or here- 

 after for the proprietor, and only a few stakes and bavins 



