LARGE COUNTRY VILLAS. 



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wliicli have clear stems, at leas^t 6 ft. in height: they should be planted on 

 little hillocks, if the ground is at all damp ; and staked and protected from 

 the ru!)biiig of the cow. One of the best modes of doing this is that invented 

 by Charles Lawrence, Esq., and explained in fgs. 147. to 119. The advan- 

 tages which this guard has over all others, Mr. Lawrence finds to be, " free 

 motion to the tree, without producing any friction on the bark ; perfect secu- 

 rity against the attacks of catile; durability, cheapness, and neatness in 

 appearance," Those guards which confine the tree are objectionable from 

 preventing the motion of its stem, which is essential to its health and growth; 

 and those which stand at a distance fcom the tree, consisting of three or four 

 posts connected by horizontal spars, are very injurious to the bark in high 

 winds, and are, besides, very expensive and unsightly. The following are 

 Mr. Lawrence's directions for preparing and putting up his tree-guard: — 



Mr. Laivrmce's tree-guard against homed cattle. — " Procure stakes of ash or larch, or, in 

 default of these, of any other straight-growiDg tree, when thinning young plantations, or 

 cutting down coppice. These stakes should be 6 ft. in length, or more if requisite, and 

 about 2 in. in diameter at the thickest end ; and they should have holes drilled through 

 them at the top and bottom, about 1 ft. from each end. Get a 

 similar hole drilled 2 or 3 inches up the centre of a stake, and then 

 saw off the length which has had the hole drilled through it, and 

 which will give a piece that, when the string or wre is drawn 

 through it, will resemble 6 in fg. 147. Repeat the operation till as 

 many pieces are drilled and sawn off as may be wanted. Pass a 

 strong piece of copper, or Rowland's metallic wire, or thick tarred 

 strmg, tlirough one stake by the hole at the top, and then through 

 one of the 2-inch pieces, then through another stake, and so on, 

 separating each stake at top and bottom by one of the 2 -inch pieces 

 of wood, until you have enough to sun-ound your tree loosely, leaving plenty of space for 

 growth. When this is done, the appearance of the guard, before being put on, will be as in 

 fig. 148. Place the guard thus formed round the tree, and fasten the ends of the wire or 



string. The guard is nmch the same as the cradle 

 put round the neck of a blistered horse, to prevent 

 his gnawing the irritated part. The ends of the 

 stakes merely rest on the ground, and they should 

 be cut quite flat at the bottom, to prevent their 

 sticking in it. At the upper end, they should have 

 a sharp slanting cut with a bill-hook, to throw off 

 the rain. The motion of the tree ivill not be in any 

 degree impeded ; and the bark cannot be injured, 

 let the wind blow as it may, for the guard moves 

 freely ■Cvith the tree in every direction. If a tree is 

 growing rapidly, it wU want room before the guard 

 requires renewing ; in which case it is only necessary 

 to untie the string or wire at the top and bottom, 

 lengthen the string or wire by tying a piece to it, 

 and introduce an extra rod, and two extra sepa- 

 rating pieces. As a principal featm-e in this guard 

 is that the tree is left quite at liberty to be blown 

 about by the wind in every direction, of course it 

 does not obviate the necessity of staking a newly 

 planted tree until it becomes fairly rooted." 



" I can vouch," says Mr. Lawrence, " for this guard affording perfect protection against 

 cattle ; for I had two cows, the most determined barkers of trees I ever met with, in a 

 paddock in which there were several single trees. 'J'hey had, sooner or later, contrived to 

 get at my trees, and ruin them ; and I was about to fatten them otf, and condemn them to 

 death for their offences, when I hit upon the mode of protection just described. My men 

 and myself were curious to see the impression that would be made on the cows by the new 



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