CHAPTER XVI. 



Planting Trees Along Fences and Roads. 



Fence-eow trees, if planted properly and rightly managed afterwards, 

 are of great importance to tte fanning community and to all agricultural 

 areas generally. This would especially be the case in this country, 

 where there are extensive tracts of land under cultivation without the 

 sign .of a tree upon them. As yet almost nothing has been attempted 

 in this way by our farmers, but I think it is safe to assert that, ere long, 

 the time will come when its importance will be recognised, and the 

 system of planting rows of trees along the fences will beconie general. 



I have strongly to recommend the landowners of the colony to plant 

 trees in this way for the following reasons, namely : — 1st, by this means 

 shelter and shade are given to stock and crops whereby larger returns wiU 

 be procured ; and 2nd, the result being a finely-clothed and ornamental 

 appearance to the farm, an enhanced value of property will be secured 

 to a very considerable extent. These objects can be obtained without 

 any injury whatever being done to the agricultural produce of the farm. 



In planting trees in the manner stated, the plants may be put in one 

 or more rows, as may be considered necessary in accordance with the 

 requirements of the particular line being operated on, by its situation 

 in respect to general and local winds. Thus, where the line faces 

 the north or north-west it would be advisable to plant several rows 

 of trees together, in order to afford more protection to the crops and 

 stock in the fields to leeward of it. A single or even double row of trees 

 in this case would not be nearly sufficient to give the desired shelter 

 from the winds. 



As a rule, one row of trees is not sufficient in our northern areas to 

 give shelter, nor would the trees be likely under such circumstances to 

 attain to any considerable degree of size or beauty. In this country it 

 may almost be put down as a sine qua non in planting operations of what- 

 soever kind they may be, that the trees must be planted in considerable 

 bodies together, in order that, by their mutually sheltering and pro- 

 tecting one another, they may grow healthily and of a strong and 

 robust habit. If done otherwise, the result wiU, in the generality of 

 cases, be found unsatisfactory. 



Of course there are cases where a single row would be quite sufficient, 

 such as in some sheltered spot with a good quiet aspect, but such spots 

 are the exception here. 



