CHAPTER XV. 



The Fencing of Plantations. 



That all lands devoted to the rearing of young trees must be- tho- 

 roughly and securely fenced is, perhaps, hardly necessary to remark 

 here, but the subject being a component part of the forester's duties, I 

 devote a short chapter to its consideration. 



While the trees are in a young and tender condition they are very 

 liable to injury from the trampling and browsing of herbivorous animals, 

 consequently it is absolutely necessary to protect them while they are in 

 this state, if successful planting is looked for. Independent, however, o£ 

 protection from stock which trees derive from the ground they occupy 

 being thoroughly enclosed, there is another advantage which is secured 

 to the young crop from the fence, and that is shelter to a more or less 

 extent, according to the character of the material used. It has been 

 frequently remarked by those engaged in the formation of plantations, 

 that a very slight shelter from cold or hot winds, by the boundary fence 

 breaking these, has a wonderful efEect upon the growth of the young 

 trees inside, to such an extent that those trees nearest the fence are 

 generally so much healthier and stronger than the others as to have the 

 appearance of being some years older. The effect and advantage, then, 

 of this is that the outer rows of trees get up quickly, and tend to 

 protect those further in the body of the plantation. As a rule, it i» 

 found that well-fenced plantations in Europe are from eight to ten year& 

 in advance of those which are badly or not at all fenced. 



It may be remarked here that young plantations in this country dO' 

 not, generally speaking, require the protection of fences after they 

 have attained the age of six to ten years, according to the character of 

 the trees constituting them, as at this stage the trees should, under fair 

 management, be sufficiently grown to enable them to stand good against 

 the inroads of stock. 



Recognising, then, the immense value of good and judicious fences to 

 the welfare of the young trees in our plantations when in their early 

 stage of growth, it is of paramount importance for those about to plant, 

 to enclose the ground intended to be operated on with a fence of such 

 a character as will give this shelter. 



It is evident that much will depend upon the local supply of certain 

 materials — whether it be great or small— as to the kind of fence to be 

 erected round a plantation. This, no doubt, is the proper rule to be 

 guided by in a matter of the kind. In enclosing a very large district 



