236 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLAND 



almost no hedge that hath not some store of the 

 greatest sort (of trees), beside infinit numbers of 

 hedgerows . . . that are mainteined of purpose 

 for the building and provision of such owners 

 as doo possesse the same.' 



Oak had then always the preference, though 

 nowadays elm is certainly the tree most commonly 

 to be found along country lanes and among the 

 hedges, where it throws up abundant suckers, 

 giving free choice for standards at convenient 

 distances. 



From a purely business point of view there 

 can be no doubt that the growth of hedgerow 

 trees is in direct opposition to the highest farm- 

 ing of the land. All standard trees interfere, 

 some more, some less, with the growth of crops 

 on arable land, and even the shelter given to 

 cattle and sheep on pasture lands would be 

 much more effective if narrow shelter-belts were 

 planted than it can possibly be by means of 

 standard trees scattered among the hedgerows. 

 That hedgerow timber prejudices the yield of 

 arable land is a factor which now receives a 

 certain amount of practical consideration. In 

 Oxfordshire, for example, farm leases used to 



