ON THE CULTIVATION OF TREES. 317 



necessary accompaniment to roads, on account of the 

 shade they afford. 



Caroline. I think fruit-trees, and such as have sweet- 

 smelling blossoms, should be planted for the gratification 

 of the passengers. 



Mrs. B. I am afraid that the kindness of your inten- 

 tion would be frustrated ; for as these trees are not the 

 property of the public, it would be only leading the passen- 

 ger into temptation, and exposing the tree to danger ; the 

 fruit would be unlawfully gathered, and eaten, in all prob- 

 ability, before it was ripe ; and the tree would suffer from 

 the pulling and breaking of its branches. When fruit- 

 trees grow on the high road, the proprietors are often oblig- 

 ed to fence the stems with briars and brambles, to prevent 

 their being climbed, and to lop the lower branches, in or- 

 der that they may be above the reach of the passengers. 



The elm is one of the trees best adapted for the high 

 road : it may be transplanted without injury, after it has 

 attained such a growth as to enable it to resist the attacks 

 of cattle, an essential point for trees so much exposed : it 

 is robust in its nature, of long duration, and affords a light 

 and pleasant shade : its roots are superficial, and yet not 

 spreading, and it bears neither flowers nor fruit which 

 can tempt the passenger. 



The plane, a tree very common on the Continent, is 

 also well adapted to roads. It comes into leaf very late, 

 so that the roads have full time to dry in spring. The 

 oak is so robust and durable a tree, that it would be ex- 

 cellent for this purpose, could it be transplanted sufficient- 

 ly large to preserve it from accidental injury ; but it suf- 

 fers from transplanting unless very young. The best 

 mode of rearing oaks for avenues is to plant them in 

 hedges : the bramble, or other shrubs of which the hedge 

 is composed, afford them shelter and defence, until they 

 are of an age to resist accidental injury ; the hedge may 

 then be cut down at, pleasure. This has also the advan- 

 tage of forcing the roots of the oak to descend : for the 

 roots of the hedge, being more superficial, consume the 

 nourishment near the surface of the soil, and compel those 

 of the oak to seek it in a lower region. 



1713. Why are not fruit trees suitable to be planted on the sides of 

 roads'? 1714. When they are so planted, what do the proprietors 

 have to do! 1715. What is said of the elm for this purpose! 1716. 

 Of the oak and plane! 1717. Of the best mode of rearing the oakl 



