70 
FOREST AND STREAM. 



Woodland, Lawn and Garden. 
HEDGES Aww THEIR USES. 


No. IV.—TuHREE SPRUCES. 
bape a aaa ead . 
Where to the eye three well marked distances 
Spread their peculiar coloring—vivid geeen, 
Warm brown and black opaque the foreground bears 
Conspicuous; sober olive coldly marks 
The second distance; thence the third declines » 
In softer blue, or lessening still, is lost 
In fainted purple. When thy taste is called 
To deck a scene where nature’s self presents 
All these distinct gradations, then rejoice 
As doth the painter, and like him apply 
Thy colors; plant thou on each separate part 
Itsproper foliage.?’ 
Buack Spruce (nigra). 
W8HITE*SPRUCE (alva’. 
Batsam Fir (picea). 
The fir and spruce trees belong to a family quite readily 
distinguished from the pine species, and from their general 
and botanical characters are well known to the most casual 
observer. They have shorter leaves than the pine, and 
their leaves are not arranged in*fascicles like the pine, but 
singly and in rows. This wise provision of nature enables 
these branches and leaves to offer a greater resistance to 
external influences, strong currents of air, than the more 
graceful yielding branches of the pine; and for this 
reason are better adapted for a sheltering barrier of pro- 
tection to certain localities than the pine tree, beau- 
tiful as it is when nicely planted and skilfully cultured. 
The seed cones of this truly American species are very pe- 
culiar in themselves, being smaller than any other cone, 
and of great compactness of character, ripening their seeds 
every year. The fir cones or seed vessels stand erect, per- 
pendicular upon its stalks. The cones of the. spruce are 
hung like pendants beneath the branches, and are of less 
compact character. So much is necessary to the right un- 
derstanding of the plants we use, and for the uses we intend 
to put them, either as a low hedge or separation line, or a 
barrier line, to battle with the elements, or for the orna- 
mental decoration or beautifying of the 2vodland, lawn or 
garden—while the inost beautiful hedges may be grown 
from the planting of almost any of our common and well- 
known species of hardy evergreens and shrubs, of which 
we have a great number,—yet all are not equally valuable 
for the low hedge.* We notice in this paper the trees and 
tree plants best adapted for heavy screens intended to pro- 
tect young trees and plants, such as pears and small fruits, 
peaches and apricots from strongly blowing winds from 
some particular quarter during the winter months. Much 
serious injury is received from this source alone in many 
parts of our Eastern States; the cold of our winters in 
some particular localities being frequently below zero, and 
sometimes continuing so low for days. 
To mitigate this cold in a certain degree, requires all the 
art of the experienced culturist. I have before me at this 
writing the question : ‘‘ Sir, I have a finely located piece of 
ground for the growing of small fruits, especially pear 
trees of the dwarf kinds. My grounds consist of an acre or 
more in extent laying between two high hills, and are com- 
pletely protected on all side from the high winds except on 
the northwest side, which is open like the mouth of a tunnel. 
Through this opening the wind rushes like a tornado. No 
common board fence will long stand before it. What shall 
Ido to remedy this? Some of my neighbors recommend 
hedging. Now no hedge will stand the wind any better 
than my old board fence. What shall I do and how shall I 
remedy this great loss of crops ?”’ This letter bears date of 
May, 1850. I reproduce it as an illustration every way 
' worthy the consideration of persons having similar loca- 
tions, of which there are many in all our States. For the 
treatment of this ‘‘tunnel gap” between the hills I recom- 
mended to him the following plan, which he successfully 
carried into execution, introducing some of those other firs 
and spruces, as noticed in the heading of this paper. 
‘« Sir—Your description of the locality described in your 
letter as well protected from high winds from without on 
all sides but one, is indeed the question you ask, ‘ How 
shall I stop the wind from blowing to pieces my fine tender 
trees through the mouth of this natural tunnel ?’”’+ 
You cannot stop the winds blowing, but you have within 
your every day means, the remedy modifying in a very es- 
sential degree the cold and heat and drought, which often 
prove so destructive to the choice plants of the garden. In 
your own enclosure you have three sides already well 
secured by nature from all outward innovations. Now, as 
to the northwest, or windy corner, I recommend you to 
prepare a good deep trench, of say three feet in depth and 
two and a half in width, into which place for an inner row 
of barrier hedge the healthy plants of black spruce, say four 
feet in height, and these will be found to be quite a large 
sized plant, but not too large for your purpose. Set these 
plants seven feet distant from trunk to trunk, pressi ie the 
soil, which is supposed to be of good quality, firmly about 
them. After mulching the top of the ground in a thorough 
manner, wsine qua non with all evergreens in the hedge row 
at their first setting, leave them for the second row.} This 

* We shall notice all the many varieties of the coniferous and other 
evergreens in the course of these papers, any and all haying special 
reference to their adaptation to different situations on the lawn. 
+ We have in the course of our eg aoe had many questions of a 
similar character asked, and a lack of knowledge of the general laws 
appertaining to the face of the country has been the source of much 
trouble to ‘the owners of otherwise very desirable locations. 
+The black spruce inits native forest is.considersbly taller than the 
white spruce; but there is often difficulty in distinguishing between 
the two, yet the white spruce is a more beautiful standard than the 
black; and isjoften used in the manner I have here recommended as 
a third_or even second row. 


second row is to be set in precisely the same manner as the 
first, only you are to set them in guéncua, or break joint, or 
spaces, thus * *; the second row covering the break in 
the first, and in this manner, as you plant your barrier more 
or less wide, you soon make an impenetrable shelter from 
the highest winds. The second row is to be composed of 
white spruce trees, in plants like the first row. This second 
row is to be set at about ten,feet distance from the first row, 
and the plants at same distance in the hedge row. Now, if 
you deem it advisable in your case, and I think the very 
exposed situation of your grounds demand a very firm 
barrier of resistance to the northwest current, you can use 
the balsam fir—a tree remarkable for its long life and 
greenness, beauty of form and foliage, yet inferior in height 
to the other before named trees. As a third row tree, or 
the outside row of your barrier, it will give you I think 
entire satisfaction. This row is to be planted in the same 
manner as you have planted the other two. You will mulch 
well, or in the most thorough manner, and you may rely 
with a good degree of confidence your work is a good work, 
and will give you satisfaction. 
Thus you have all the elements of a barrier hedge—the 
largest hedge ever made; and if further embellishment is 
needed, you can set some arbor vitee and hemlock trees, say 
five or six of each small plants of one foot height on the 
outside of your barrier, or side next to the wind, at a dis- 
tance of thirty or forty feet, or in an irregular manner; this 
not so much for use as for ornamentation, and to break up 
the monotony of the green mass before you. 
Now, to return to the final treatment of your barrier, the 
clipping of the inside, or side next the field. I suppose you 
will have a walk, say of four feet width, running along side 
these spruce trees. Well, now begin the trimming process. 
There should be no trimming done to these inside branches 
the first year at all, except to shorten in a few inches any 
one or two very long branches. When you do begin to 
trim it isto be near the height of this barrier you desire, 
say, begin to clip in at six feet, and then gradually slope 
the branches as your taste may suggest. ‘The sides of this 
soon to be impenetrable wall of compact greenness should 
be to the height of six feet perpendicular, and trimmed 
every season of any protruding or superfluous branches. 
The other trees composing this ‘‘ windscreen” are not to 
be trimmed at all, but left to take the natural position of a 
natural forest, which in a few years they will, and you will 
find by a little careful labor and expense you have effectu- 
ally stopped the mouth of your old enemy, the ‘“‘ northwest 
tunnel.” : 
On the outside of this walk by the side of these evergreens, 
your pear, peach and apricot will live and thrive; and if 
we are not much mistaken, you will find your labor, ex- 
PF pense and care not in vain.§ 
We have made this illustration of the uses of three kinds 
of the spruce family for hedges from our practical notes; 
the practical use of which, we have no hesitancy in saying, 
can in most ordinary cases be relied upon asa paying work. 
Fora small hedge, which it is desirable to keep closely 
clipped, these spruces would perhaps occupy more ground 
than the proprietor would be willing to grant. But where 
aseparation line or belt of hedge of ten feet or more in 
width can be given, there is no grander sight or more im- 
penetrable line than these tall, well-clipped trees. Always 
green, always refreshing, and no insects of any account to 
prey upon or make it their home. We therefore urge upon 
our cultivators of the dwarf pear to put some three or four 
green lines of black and white spruce, in parallels, within 
their orchards, and our word for it they will find their ac- 
count in it within two years from the planting of the same. 
Of the other modifying influences to be derived from this 
arrangement we shall speak in its proper place and time. 
OLLIPoD QuILL. 

§In several instances where we have used the above arrangement, 
especially for field lines of separation and for the protection of pear 
orchards from wind, we have been successful. 
€ 
~~ 
CHOPPING DOWN THE REDWOOD 
TREES. 
Ra 
TRIBUNE correspondent, trom Mendocino county, 
California, gives the following most interesting ac- 
count, how lumbering is carried on: 
‘To chop down a redwood tree, the chopper does not 
stand on the ground, but upon the stage, sometimes twelve 
feet above the ground. Like the sequoi, the redwood has 
a great bulk near the ground, but contracts a few feet 
above. The chopper wants only the fair round of the tree, 
and his stage is composed of two stout staves, shod with a 
pointed iron at one end, which is driven into the tree. 
The outer ends are securely supported; and on these staves 
he lays two narrow, tough boards, on which he stands, and 
which spring at every blow of his axe. I¢ will give you an 
idea of the bulk of these trees, when I tell you that in 
chopping down the larger ones two men stand op 
the stage and chop ‘simultaneously at the same cut, fac- 
ing each other. They cut off the bark, which is from four 
to ten, and often fifteen inches thick. This done, they be- 
gin what is called the ‘‘ undercut,” the cut onthat side 
toward which the tree is meant to fall; and when they 
have made a little progress, they, by an ingenious and 
simple contrivance, fix upon the proper direction of the 
cut, so as tomake the tree fall accurately where they want 
it. This is necessary, on account of the great length and 
weight of the trees, and the roughness of the ground, by 
reason of which a tree carelessly felled may in its fall 
break and split into pieces, so as to make it entirely worth- 
less. This happens not unfrequently, in spite of every 
care. So skillful are they in giving to the tree its proper 
direction, that they are able to set a post or stake in the 
ground a hundred feet or more from the root of the tree, 
and drive it down by felling the tree on top of it. ‘Can 
you really drive a stake witha tree?” TI asked, and was 

answered, ‘‘Of course, we do it every day.” The “‘un- 
dercut” goes in about two-thirds the diameter. When it 
is finished the stage is shifted to the opposite side, and 
then it is a remarkable sight to see the tall, straight mass be- 
gin to tremble as the axe goes in. It usually gives a heavy 
crack about fifteen minutes before it means to fall. The 
choppe1 thereupon gives a warning shout, so that all may 
stand clear—not of the tree, for he knows where that will 
go, and ina cleared space men will stand within ten fee: of 
where the top of the tree is to strike, and watch its fall: 
his warning is against the branches of other trees, which 
are sometimes torn off and fiung to a distance by the fall- 
ing giant, and which occasionally dash out men’s brains. 
At last the tree visibly totters, and slowly goes over; and 
as it goes, the chopper gets off the stage, and runs afew 
feet to one side. Then you hear and sce one of the grand- 
est and. most majestic incidents of forest life. There is a 
sharp crack, a crash, and then a long, prolonged, thunder- 
ous crash, which, when you hear it from a little distance, 
is startlingly like an actual and severe thunder peal. To 
see a tree six feet in diameter, and 175 feet high, thus go 
down, is a very great sight, not soon forgptten. More than 
half the wood is wasted. 
The choppers expressed themselves: as disappointed that 
they could not just then show me the fall of a tree ten or 
twelve feetin diameter, and over 200 feet high. In one 
logging camp_I visited there remained a stump, fourteen 
feet high. At this height the tree was fourteen feet in di- 
ameter, perfectly round and sound, and it was sawn into 
seventeen logs each twelve feet long. The upper Tength 
was six feet in diameter. Probably the tree was 300 fect 
long, for the top for along distance is wasted. 
So many of the trees and so many parts of trees are 
splintered or broken in the fall, that the master of a log- 
ging camp told me he thought they wasted at least as much 
as they saved; and as the mills also wasted a good deal, 
it is probable that for every foot ot this lumber that goes 
to market two feet are lost. A five foot tree occupies a 
chopper from two and «# half to three anda half hours; 
when the tree is down the sawyers come. It is odd enough 
to go past a tree-and see a saw moving back and forward 
across its diameter without seeing the man who moves it, 
-for the tree hides him completely from you, if you are on 
the side opposite him.” 
Hatural History. 
CAPTURE AND PRESERVATION OF THE 
ANCHOVY. 
pee 
pe enquiries have been made concerning the mode of 
capturing the Anchovy, we, have jotted down a few 
memoranda on the subject, taken from the Hncycloycdie Me 
thodajue, Potssons, which though old are not the less trust- 
worthy and practical. The volumes on Ichthyology were 
prepared by Dechamel di. Moncean, and contain a mass of 
information no where else gathered together. 
The anchovy is caught on dark nights well off shore from 
May to July in the Atlantic, and a month earlier in the Med. 
iterranean, Several boats engage in the fishery, say four, 
of which there are five boats with a couple of men each, 
and one with the net, manned by four or five men. Dark 
nights without a moon are the most favorable, and the fire 
boats put to sea, first keuping one or two hundred yards 
apart. The fire is made in a raised brasier and must be 
seen in every direction. The boats choose a favorable po- ’ 
sition, generally six miles from shore, followed by the net 
boat. As soon as anchovies are seen coming around the 
fire, a signal is given and the net is shot so as to encompass 
the fire boat with the school of fish. 
This net is of fine material, not over half an inch in the 
mesh, some forty fathoms long and .four to seven fathoms 
deep. It is provided with floats and foot-leads and can be 
pursed at the foot rope if required. As soon as the net is 
closed the light is extinguished and the water is beaten, 
which scatters the fish and drives them into the meshes, 
where they are gilled. 
The net is taken to the near fire boat that signals in, and 
sometimes very large hauls are made. Sometimes the fire 
boats alone go out and dexterously attract a whole school 
to the shore where they are led into a labyrinth. 
This fish also frequents the mouth of rivers and may be 
taken in brackish waters. Smaller nets can be used, and 
the fishery may by conducted on quite a small scale with a 
torch and a white cloth spread on a frame dipped into the 
water around the boat. The little fish attracted by the light 
will spring out and fall on the cloth. 
Sprats, sardines and brit are often found mixed with an- 
chovies, and much trouble is sometimes caused by having 
to sort them out. Anchovies are much scarcer on the 
coasts of France than they were sixty years ago, and the 
smaller herring are sometimes treated so as to pass for an- 
chovies. } 
Anchovies are salted in a peculiar manner., The head 
and entrails (which are bitter,) are torn out, and they are 
then packed closely in casks back up, between layers of 
ground salt, the last layer being colored with a little ochre. 
The cask is then headed up, a hole being left in the head 
and foot, and the cask is raised on a frame so as to allow 
the drippings to be collected. A fermentation then takes 
place, and during this process the head of the cask is kept 
supplied with strong brine, and no rain is allowed to fall on 
it. In Holland the fish are repacked thrice in new salt and 
the process is most carefully watched, the smell from the 
cask indicating the state of the operation. ~ 
The fish ought not to be eaten for three months after 
completing the process, and will keep for a year or more in 
proper order. 
Anchovy paste is made from fish which have been cleaned 
as above, and also by removing the fins, tail and backbone, 
the fish being then salted with red salt, much as before, 
and then ground into paste. 
Anchovy sauce is variously prepared. It is believed with 





