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rows and the plants of one yard, and was kept low by lopping. When 

 the branches spread too much the centre row was entirely removed, and 

 in the remaining rows every other fir was taken out. All the branches, 

 even the lowest, have been well preserved by this method, and also 

 for the reason that the hedge was never clipped at the sides ; and 

 this hedge now forms a thicket about seven yards in width, in which 

 innumerable nests are found every year. The space which has been 

 formed between the two rows of lopped trees, under the thick branches, 

 serves in the winter as a shelter and feeding place for game. 



HEDGE OF FIRS. 



The left-hand side represents the portion cut four years before the 

 right-hand side, which has been recently cut. 



The hedge is now cut only every four to six years, and for this 

 purpose is divided into six parts. 



An avenue of Canadian poplars, which stretches along the brook for 

 some way, serves not only as a passage for the birds between the park 

 and the field-copses, but is used by a colony of over a hundred fieldfares 

 and many other birds, including a few kestrels. 



The trees of this avenue (which might consist of other kinds of 

 poplars) are lopped every five years in the manner shown in the accom- 

 panying illustration. The birds build their nests on the knotty 

 excrescences produced by the lopping, particularly when there are 

 young branches. Other trees in the park and the avenues, such as 

 limes, maples, etc. fruit trees, of course, are out of the question 

 are prepared for the birds without their growth or their appearance 

 being injured. The branches and twigs of the trees, which are for the 



