HEDGEROW TREES AND HEDGES 243 



Beech makes a first-rate hedge, because the dead 

 leaves remain persistent, as in young plantations, 

 when the older woods shed their russet foliage 

 in October. Hornbeam is also very good, being 

 surpassed only by hawthorn and beech for general 

 hedging purposes. Excellent hedges can also be 

 made of yew, holly, spruce, silver fir, privet, Por- 

 tugal laurel, boxwood, myrtle, and juniper ; but 

 all of these are really only suitable for gardens 

 and ornamental grounds, and not for the rough 

 wear and tear of field hedges. But beware of 

 forming a yew hedge wherever horses and cattle 

 may at any time chance to graze near it. Ever 

 and anon the newspapers exhibit the views held, 

 or the discoveries just made by individuals, as to 

 the toxic effects or the harmlessness of yew. Long 

 ago that point was fairly settled as regards horses 

 and cattle, though sheep can eat of yew with im- 

 punity. There is no more unprejudiced evidence 

 than that of gentle Gilbert White, as given in his 

 Observations on Vegetables, that * A horse tied 

 to a yew-hedge, or to a faggot-stack of dead 

 yew, shall be found dead before the owner can 

 be aware that any danger is at hand ; and the 

 writer has been several times a sorrowful witness 



