80 HEDGES, WINDBREAKS, SHELTERS, ETC. 



whole, with here and there a few loops of Virginia 

 creeper. I defy you to find anything more beautiful. 

 But it is the value of these palisades against the storm 

 and tfre wind that we should most think of. I know 

 farmers who have shown their first title to owner- 

 ship by cutting down all such encumbrances. They 

 look upon them as occupants of good soil which 

 should be put to better purposes. In one case, where 

 I have had excellent opportunity for observation, the 

 owner has so changed the climate that where quince 

 orchards grew to perfection, nothing of the kind will 

 at present thrive. It is well sometimes to join hands 

 with nature and board up or otherwise protect such a 

 line of trees. Behind such a protection half-hardy 

 crops and trees will be sufficiently helped to become 

 toughened to the climate. Many of our shrubs and 

 trees only need guarding carefully for the first four 

 or five years of tlieir growth, after which they 

 become acclimated and hardy. 



In a few cases I have found it advisable to use 

 movable winter fences instead of planting shrubs or 

 trees, removing them when spring returns. These 

 are especially useful to the north and west of vine- 

 yards and quince orchards. I have also found them 

 useful in making a currant crop certain and in break- 

 ing from my gooseberry rows the full force of the 

 wind, but in the latter case the protection is of more 

 importance in breaking the force of the hot winds 

 in summer. Such fences are not desirable to shield 

 peach trees and plums, which are more likely to be 

 induced to make late growth or soften their blossom 

 buds in the warm winter sun. Some of the pear 

 trees, notably the Seckel and Sheldon, are easily 



