754 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part III. 



45^7. The width of skreen plantations ought generally to be regulated by the value of the land for 

 agricultural uses, and the advantages of the situation for the sale and delivery of timber. In ordinary 

 cases, from two to four statute poles may be considered as an eligible width. 



4588. The form of plantations for shelter, however, will not in every case be that of a stripe or belt of 

 uniform width. In hilly, rocky, and other situations, different forms will suggest themselves, according 

 to the situation and the bbjects'in view. In rocky abrupt sites {Jig. 717.) the plantation will consist of a 



717 



718 



number of masses {a, b, c), of forms determined by the rocks and precipices, among which some of the 

 most valuable pasture may be left as glades (rf, e), for use, effect, and for the sake of game. Strips and 

 hedges for sheltering, or separating arable lands, should be formed as much as possible in straight and 

 parallel lines, in order not to increase the expense of tillage by short and irregular turnings. Straight 

 parallel strips, on irregular surfaces, have a more varied appearance at a distance, than strips ever so 

 much varied on a flat surface ; for, in the former case, the outline against the sky is varied as much as 

 that on the earth. In extensive hilly pastures, in which it is often desirable to produce shelter, and at 

 the same time to plant only the most rocky and unproductive spots, the forms may be of the most irre- 

 gular description ; and by planting chiefly on the eminences and slopes {fig. 718.), shelter will be most 



effectually produced, the pasture improved, the least valu- 

 able ground rendered protluctive in copse or timber, and the 

 [^VS greatest richness and picturesque beauty conferred on the 

 -"-''-'' landscape. There are some fine examples of this in the 

 hilly districts of Fifeshire: there, on many estates where 

 nothing was sought for but profit and shelter, the greatest 

 beauty has been produced ; and the picturesque tourist now 

 passes through glades and valleys, pastured by well-fed cattle 

 and sheep, enlivened by rocks, thickets, hanging-woods, and 

 occasional rills and lakes. Fifty years ago scarcely a tree 

 was to be seen, and only the most inferior descriptions of 

 live stock. 



4589. The species of woody plants best adapted for shelter, 

 are the rapid-growing and evergreen trees, as the Scotch 

 pine ; and such as are at the same time clothed with branches 

 from the ground upwards, as the spruce fir, are the best of 

 all trees for shelter, unless the situation is very elevated. 

 Among the deciduous trees, the fast-growing branchy sorts 

 are most desirable, as tlie larch, birch, poplar, willow ; in 

 very elevated situations, the birch, mountain-ash, and Scotch 

 pine; exposed to the sea breeze, the elder and sycamore. 

 To maintain a branchy leafy screen from the ground up- 

 wards, intermix tree and shrubs which stole; or such as 

 grow under the sliade and drip of others, as the holly, hazel, 

 dog- wood, box, yew, &c. To produce shelter, and yet admit 

 of the growth of grass below the trees, prune any sort to 

 single stems, and use chiefly deciduous sorts. 



45'JO. In Meak and barren situations. Marshal observes, 

 the larch will generally be found the most profitable, as 

 timber ; but, being deciduous, it does not in winter, when 

 its services are most wanted, afford as much shelter as the 

 common pine. A skreen, to shelter live stock, should be 

 close at the bottom, otherwise it is injurious rather than 

 beneficial; not only the blast acquiring additional current, but snow being liable to be blown through, 

 and to be lodged in drifts on the leeward side, to the annoj'ance and danger of sheep that have repaired 

 to it for shelter. A larch plantation margined with spruce firs, and these headed at twelve or fifteen 

 feet high, would afford the required shelter for a length of years. The firs, or pines, thus treated, would 

 be induced to throw out lateral boughs, and feather to the ground : while tlie larches, in their more 

 advanced state of growth, would, by permitting the winter's winds to pass through the upper parts of the 

 skreen, break the current and mellow the blast. 



4591. In more genial situatiofis, the beech, by retaining its leaves in winter, especially while it is young, 

 forms a valuable skreen. If the outer margins were kept in a state of coppice wood, and cut alternately, 

 and the middle ranks suffered to rise as timber trees, the triple purpose of skreen plantations might be 

 attained in an eminent degree, and almost in perpetuity. 



4.592. In deep-soiled vale districts, which not unfrequently want shelter, skreens of oak might be 

 managed in a similar way. Hollies, or other hardy evergreens, planted as underwood, in groves of 

 either of the above descriptions, would, if suitable situations were assigned them, assist much in this 

 intention. 



4593. A tall impervious fence is, for the purpose of shelter to pasturing stock, nearly equal to a depth of 

 coppice wood, and infinitely preferable to an open grove of timber trees ; beside its additional use as a 

 fence. There appears one species of fence which is peculiarly adapted to this purpose. This is the 

 coppice mound hedge of Devonshire and South Wales; namely, a high wide bank or mound of earth, 

 planted with coppice woods. This becomes, immediately on its erection, a shelter and a guard to 

 pasture grounds. 



4594. The method of formhig fences of thig kind is to carry up 

 a stratum of earth, between two sod facings, " battering," or 

 leaning somewhat inward, to the required height ; and to plant 

 on the top the roots and lower stems of coppice plants, ga- 

 thered in woods or on waste grounds ; or nursery plants adapted 

 to the given situation. If the mound be carried to a full heifjht, 

 as five or six feet, and about that width at the top, and this be 

 planted with strong plants, with stems cut off about two feet 

 above the roots (in the usual practice of Devonshire), a suf- 



ficient fence is thus immediately formed against ordinary stoclr. 

 But if the bank be lower, or if nursery plants be put in, a slight 

 guard run along the outer brink on either side, and leaning 

 outv/ard over the face of the mound, is required (especially 

 against sheep) until the plants get up. If a hedge of this kind 

 be raised as a plantation fence (especially on the lower side of a 

 slope), the outer side only requires to be faced with sods ; the 

 hedge plants being set in a rough shelving bank, on Hie inn^ 

 side. 



