CHAPTER X 



TREES SUITABLE FOR HEDGEROW AND FIELD 

 PLANTING 



THE well-founded complaint that hedgerow and field trees 

 harbour birds to the serious destruction of the grain crops 

 is largely counterbalanced by their ornamental appearance 

 and the shelter they afford both to man and beast. 



In proceeding to consider the trees that are most suit- 

 able for hedgerow and field planting four important points 

 must be kept in view. (1) That the spread of branches 

 is, comparatively speaking, small in proportion to the 

 tree's height ; (2) that the roots have a downward tendency, 

 or do not ramify to too great an extent ; (3) that the tree 

 is well adapted for exposed situations and standing singly ; 

 and (4) that the timber value is such as to compensate in 

 some degree for the cost of planting and after-management 

 in the matter of pruning and fencing. Although we rarely 

 find all these qualities concentrated in one tree, still, with 

 careful choice and good after-management, much may be 

 done to produce the desired effect, even in trees of a partially 

 opposite character. 



That the wrong class of timber is often planted in our 

 hedgerows and fields is painfully apparent to every one 

 who has paid attention to the subject trees of wide- 

 spreading habit both in root and branch occupying positions 

 and doing irreparable damage, where others of less obtrusive 

 nature could with advantage have been selected to take 

 their place. Timely and judicious pruning is of the utmost 

 importance in the production of hedgerow timber : but to 

 be productive of the best results, the work must be attended 



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