HEDGEROW TREES AND HEDGES 243 
Beech makes a first-rate hedge, because the dead 
leaves remain persistent, as in young plantations, 
when the older woods shed their russet foliage 
in October. Hornbeam is also very good, being 
surpassed only by hawthorn and beech for general 
hedging purposes. Excellent hedges can also be 
made of yew, holly, spruce, silver fir, privet, Por- 
tugal laurel, boxwood, myrtle, and juniper; but 
all of these are really only suitable for gardens 
and ornamental grounds, and not for the rough 
wear and tear of field hedges. But beware of 
forming a yew hedge wherever horses and cattle 
may at any time chance to graze near it. Ever 
and anon the newspapers exhibit the views held, 
or the discoveries just made by individuals, as to 
the toxic effects or the harmlessness of yew. Long 
ago that point was fairly settled as regards horses 
and cattle, though sheep can eat of yew with im- 
punity. There is no more unprejudiced evidence 
than that of gentle Gilbert White, as given in his 
Observations on Vegetables, that ‘A horse tied 
to a yew-hedge, or to a faggot-stack of dead 
yew, shall be found dead before the owner can 
be aware that any danger is at hand; and the 
writer has been several times a sorrowful witness 
