CHAR VI. 
ENCLOSING, FENCES, GATES. 
The greater part of this county is ancient enclosure* 
the fences being often full of timber trees, particularly 
elm, of which this county produces the finest in Eng¬ 
land ; the fence itself is here often composed of smooth 
wood, as elm, willow, and hazel, as well as of crabtree 
and hawthorn. 
In the middle, south and west of the county, fruit 
trees are often interspersed in the hedge-rows -where 
they apparently do little harm, and sometimes yield a 
profusion of fruit; this seems to be an useful and valu¬ 
able article obtained without loss of premises. 
The modern enclosures are made of post and rail, 
and sometimes two rows with mounds, and a quickset 
fence planted between. The modern quicksets are the 
white hawthorn without any admixture of smooth 
wood ; but some mix crabtree and holly. 
The ancient fences are renewed, by moulding up 
and plashing; the gates are generally made of oak 
sawn or clefted, no introduction of willow, to supply 
the place of oak; which latter, being the most durable, 
makes a saving in labour. 
The modern enclosures have been partly from waste 
and, and part common fields. The greatest waste 
and enclosure is that from Bromsgrove Lickey, which 
has consisted of some thousand acres, formerly covered 
with 
