London to John O J Groat's. 61 



English farmer owned the land he cultivates. But 

 such is rarely the case. Still, this fact may not pre- 

 vent the final consummation of this policy of material 

 interest. In a great many instances, the tenant might 

 compromise with the landlord in such a way as to 

 bring about this " modern improvement." And a com- 

 paratively few instances, showing a certain per centage 

 of increased production per acre to the former, and a 

 little additional rentage to the latter, would suffice to 

 give the innovation an impulse that would sweep away 

 half the hedges of the country, and deface that picture 

 which so many generations have loved to such enthu- 

 siasm of admiration. 



"Will the trees of the hedge-row be exposed to the 

 same end ? I think they will. Though trees are the 

 most sacred things the earth begets in England, as 

 has already been said, the farmer here looks at them 

 with an evil eye, as horseleeches that bleed to death 

 long stretches of the land he pays 2 per acre for 

 annually to his landlord. The hedge, however wide 

 bottomed, is his fence ; and fencing he must have. 

 But these trees, arising at narrow intervals from the 

 hedge, and spreading out their deadening shades upon 

 his wheat-fields on either side, are not useful nor orna- 

 mental to him. They may look prettily, and make a 

 nice picture in the eyes of the sentimental tourist or 



