236 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLAND 
almost no hedge that hath not some store of the 
greatest sort (of trees), beside infinit numbers of 
hedgerows . . . that are mainteined of purpose 
for the building and provision of such owners 
as doo possesse the same.’ 
Oak had then always the preference, though 
nowadays elm is certainly the tree most commonly 
to be found along country lanes and among the 
hedges, where it throws up abundant suckers, 
giving free choice for standards at convenient 
distances. 
From a purely business point of view there 
can be no doubt that the growth of hedgerow 
trees is in direct opposition to the highest farm- 
ing of the land. All standard trees interfere, 
some more, some less, with the growth of crops 
on arable land, and even the shelter given to 
cattle and sheep on pasture lands would be 
much more effective if narrow shelter-belts were 
planted than it can possibly be by means of 
standard trees scattered among the hedgerows. 
That hedgerow timber prejudices the yield of 
arable land is a factor which now receives a 
certain amount of practical consideration. In 
Oxfordshire, for example, farm leases used to 
