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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



should always be attended to in good time, and any particularly 

 strong growing branches can be shortened back. The cleaning 

 of the lower part of the stem should be gradually performed at 

 periodical intervals, until it is clear for at least twenty feet up. 

 The branches should be cut close into the bole with the hand- 

 saw, taking care that the operation is not delayed until they are 

 so large as to involve a large wound being made, which four or 

 five years will not see covered. Any spray which subsequently 

 appears should be broken (not cut) off at the base of the 

 shoots. Above twenty feet up the branches are not likely to do 

 much injury to things below, but all far- spreading ones should 

 be cut back to within ten or twelve feet of the bole, both on 

 account of decreasing the shade and also to lighten their weight, 

 as heavy limbs are very liable to break off at the point of union 

 with the trunk. This shortening back of heavy branches is too 

 often neglected in Elm-growing districts, for not only is their 

 sudden fall a source of danger to men or animals, but the large 

 exposed surface of the fracture allows fungi and water to enter 

 the bole, whereby the timber of the whole tree is sometimes 

 spoilt. 



Besides Elm, Poplars are also suitable trees for hedgerows 

 especially on wet soils. As timber-trees, the Abele and Black 

 Italian are the most useful, the former throwing up suckers 

 as freely as the Elm. The Lombardy has the most erect growth 

 of any, but does not form such a good timber bole. Oak, Beech, 

 Sycamore, &c, cannot be considered suitable hedgerow trees on 

 account of their wide-spreading habit of growth and the injury 

 they do to the hedges. 



In the great majority of cases hedgerow timber is left pretty 

 much to itself, except when the removal of a large limb becomes 

 imperative, or the farmer finds low branches troublesome. In 

 the latter case the trees are often subjected to the most brutal 

 treatment by unskilled pruners, who either leave ugly snags 

 upon the trees, or cut off the branches so carelessly that a portion 

 of the bole is torn away with them when they fall. The farmer 

 also utilises the trees as fencing posts, driving nails or staples 

 into the butts with charming impartiality and unconcern. A large 

 proportion of hedgerow timber is consequently of little value, 

 and in many cases its removal would be of benefit to the farmer, 

 without greatly detracting from the beauty of the landscape. 



