HEDGE-ROW TIMBER.

In commencing this, the third part of my subject, I am fully impressed

with a sense of its magnitude and difficulty; and nothing but a

thorough conviction resting on my own mind, of the truth of the

position which I have taken with reference to the _present state_, and

the _present management_ of Hedge-row Timber, would have emboldened

me to give expression to views which cannot but be unpalatable to

many, however just they may be, and however strong their claim, to the

serious notice of others. I am fully prepared to expect that censure

may be dealt out by some, in not very measured terms, but this does not

move me: having nothing but a plain, unvarnished tale to tell, I shall

tell that tale as fearlessly as if I were about to pour sweetest music

into the ears of those who may read. I know whereof I speak; and while

I have as little fear of any one _successfully attempting to disprove

what I shall advance_, as I have at present, I can contemplate, without

a single disturbed feeling, the liability to which I shall assuredly

expose myself, of having sundry missiles thrown at me by those who

are deeply implicated in the present “mismanagement” of this valuable

property. Thus much with reference to those who are in offices of

trust and confidence, as the managers of Woods, Plantations, and

_Hedge-Rows_, if any such shall favour me with a perusal. But I may not

proceed any further, before I say a few words in deprecation of the

displeasure of a more important class of persons who will, I trust,

do me the honour to read my “Remarks”; I mean, the proprietors of

Hedge-row Timber. To these—or rather to that portion of them who have

hitherto paid little attention to this part of their property—I would

say, let my observations be “weighed in the balances,” and, if they are

“found wanting,” let these be set against what cannot be called more

than a venial error—an error of judgment—the strong, the ardent desire

that I have to see introduced the correction of what I have, at least,

_deemed_ to be, a serious mischief.

If Hedge-row Timber has been “mismanaged”—and who can doubt it—on whom

shall the blame fall? As I have more than once said before, _not_ on a

class of men who, from their education, must necessarily be limited to

the mechanical duties connected with their office, but on the Owners

of Timber, from whom either directly, or through the agency of persons

duly qualified, such rules and regulations ought to proceed, as would

insure a better system of management. Practices are allowed, and such

a state of things is permitted by the proprietors of Hedge-row Timber,

as abundantly prove that many of them have never either understood its

value, or given themselves the trouble to enquire whether it was under

a course of suitable treatment or not.

I have stated that I consider the question which I am handling a

difficult one. I feel it to be so—not because I have any difficulty

in proving “mismanagement” on the part of those who have to do with

the timber of our hedges—not because I can feel a _doubt_ that my

statements will carry conviction along with them; but because I must

necessarily come into collision, both with the refined tastes, and with

the prejudices, of many of my readers. For instance: if I assert, as

I do without any hesitation, that many Noblemen and Gentlemen suffer

their Hedge-row Timber _to stand much too long_—where is the admirer of

the beauties of landscape scenery, who will not instantly, and perhaps

indignantly, throw down my book, and charge me with being the most

presumptuous of grumblers, and, as to _taste_, a very heretic!

If to such a charge as this I plead “not guilty,” as, after all that

can be said, I really must do, I am aware that I must be prepared with

a very strong defence. I think I am so prepared. My defence will rest

on three principal points, which it will be my endeavour to bring

out in the course of my “Remarks: viz.: First; I shall show that the

magnitude of the sacrifice which arises from Hedge-row Timber being

suffered to stand so long, is disproportionate to the good resulting

from it. Secondly; that the embellishment of a landscape does not

necessarily include _the perpetuity_ of any one race of timber trees.

And thirdly; that the present mode of “mismanaging” Hedge-row Timber,

is a perpetual offence against good taste.”

Although I have arranged my three propositions as above, I do not

intend to bind myself to take them up again, and dispose of them

in consecutive order: I have neither time nor the ability to adapt

my “remarks” to the niceties of exact logical arrangement; it will

be sufficient for me, if I shall succeed in leaving upon the minds

of those who may read them, an impression of their truth. If that

result is arrived at, it surely will be quite sufficient to draw the

particular attention of proprietors to the subject; which will be more

than half way towards securing the improvement which is so loudly

called for; and that would be as much perhaps, as could at once be

reasonably expected.

It may not be amiss to glance for an instant, at the value of the

property about which I am writing. Few people, I imagine, have any

proper conception of the aggregate amount. It is, of course, impossible

to offer more than a conjecture on the subject; but probably it is not

less, in England alone, than One Hundred Millions sterling!

It is quite clear that a course of management which only, in some of

its details, falls short of what it ought to be, would involve, as it

affected such an immense investment, a very serious loss to somebody.

How much more serious then, must it be, if, not only some of the minor

details of management, but the entire course of treatment, be radically

wrong, as it respects a considerable proportion, and very defective

indeed as to the remainder? It would be a waste of time to stop here

with a view to argue, in proof of what must appear to every one to be

nothing less than an _axiom_.

That proprietors of Hedge-row Timber are not solely influenced by

considerations of taste in their management of it, is most evident

to an experienced eye; but the _heavy loss_, which is consequent

upon allowing it to stand so long, has, probably, never been fairly

understood by them, or some efforts would have been made to prevent it.

If a Nobleman or Gentleman merely suffered his timber to stand _beyond

maturity_ in the neighbourhood of his house, or on the domain where

his mansion stood, however extensive it might be:—or if he generously

spared the trees which, though at a great distance from his residence,

were so placed as to enrich, if not constitute the principal beauty

of, some splendid scene in nature, no one, who possesses a grain of

taste, would regret it, but, on the contrary, would feel grateful for

this sacrifice to one of the most hallowed emotions of the heart,

when surveying the Creator’s works, which are all perfect; and the

touches of whose pencil are all loveliness—whether as seen in the

refreshing beauty of foliage which distinguishes the vernal season, or

the mellowed minglings of Autumn’s enchanting exhibitions: but when it

is considered, that a majority of the Nobility and Gentry, thus treat

their _remote_ and even _most distant_ estates, where besides, there

is nothing particularly attractive in the scenery, the propriety of

the course which they pursue may, I think, be fairly questioned. Some

other reason therefore, than a deference to the principles of good

taste must be found, in order to account for their conduct; and in

looking round for a reason I should say, a good deal must be set down

to _indifference_, and _pure neglect_. This I say, because it will

_not_ admit of question, that _a most extensive loss_ arises, both to

themselves, and the community in consequence; and it is not often that

gentlemen wilfully close their eyes to the importance of pecuniary

considerations, except there is some powerful and justifiable reason

which leads them to do so.

Without speculating further as to the precise cause, it is certain that

the amount of property which is thus wasted, absolutely wasted—and

in almost every case without any advantage to any party whatever—is

enormous, as it would be easy to show by statistical details and

calculations, applying to any estate where this _horror of felling

timber_ may have existed for half a century. Were this accurately done,

there could not but be such a showing, as would fully establish the

truth of what I have advanced. There would indeed be no difficulty

in fixing upon an estate, in any locality, which would illustrate my

position, but I shall not here attempt it, for various reasons, which

will be obvious to all. It would be travelling beyond the bounds of

legitimate remark, were I to refer _to any particular estate_, and

any other references, however accurate in point of fact, would not

be sufficiently specific. I would rather recommend any gentleman

whose estate may be pretty well covered with timber, already, or long

since, arrived at maturity, to make as near an estimate as he can of

its present value, or procure it to be made; and having calculated

the amount which would be exhibited of the gross sum at _compound

interest_, for any given term of years, then let him “try back,” and

endeavour to ascertain what, according to this mode of calculation, may

have been his individual loss. But when a gentleman coolly makes up his

mind to allow his Timber Trees to go to decay without ever _intending_,

or _wishing_, to make any thing of them, why then, in that case,

nothing can be advanced, but to suggest the means of protracting their

existence to the longest possible period.

It is impossible not to do homage to the feeling which prompts a

gentleman to make so large a sacrifice to taste, as to suffer the

greater part of his Hedge-row and detached Timber to perish by slow

decay; but if it can be proved that he acts upon _mistaken views_,

and that, by a better system of management, his object might be

gained without the very serious pecuniary loss which, on the other

plan, he must necessarily suffer, it cannot be doubted that such a

suggestion ought to command his instant attention. It will hardly

be denied, I think, by any one who fully understands the subject,

that _such a regular succession_ of Timber Trees in the Fields and

Hedge-rows might be secured by a proper system of management, as

would sustain and perpetuate the beauties of the landscape, while, at

the same time, _nearly_ every tree should be taken in its turn as it

arrived at maturity. It would, of course, require an entire change

of system, or rather of practice, and the change would necessarily

involve a considerable outlay, inasmuch as a constant supervision

would be required from the time of planting, but whatever might be the

expense, it would be amply returned; and whatever might be the apparent

difficulty, it would not be such but that skill and perseverance would

be sure to surmount it.

If then the objection which would be made by the man of taste, to

the felling of Hedge-row and detached Timber, could be effectually

obviated, by providing a regular succession to take the place of such

as might be cut down—for the difference of a few yards in the _site_

need hardly be taken into the account—one great difficulty, at least,

would be overcome; and instead of wasting, as is done under the present

practice, a quantity of Timber, the aggregate value of which makes

it an object of _national_ importance, the growers might take down

their trees when they arrived at maturity, and thus produce a constant

supply of the best sort for home consumption: and it will not surely be

argued by the most determined advocate for free trade, that it would

be for the interest of the English Gentleman to give a higher price

for Foreign Pine than he would be able to make of home-grown Oak! No!

emphatically No!! When the navy requires it, by all means let it be so

appropriated, and if the demand be sufficient from that quarter, the

relative price will be kept up, but let not English heart of Oak be

reduced in our home market below the value of an inferior article,

with all the costs of transit added to the original price. This were

indeed to show a most extravagant and unaccountable preference of a

crotchet over the obvious dictates of reason, and the suggestions of

prudence. It would indeed be to drop the substance, and grasp at the

shadow.

I trust I may now conclude that I have satisfactorily proved,

not only that the “magnitude of the sacrifice which the present

practice involves is disproportionate to the good resulting,” but

that “the embellishment of a landscape does not necessarily include

the perpetuity of any one race of Trees.” In handling the remaining

proposition, and in endeavouring to prove that the present treatment of

Hedge-row Timber is “a perpetual offence against good taste,” I shall

at the same time, be accumulating evidence in support of the other two.

It is proper to remark before I proceed any further, that when I speak

of Timber being allowed to stand too long, and of the consequent heavy

loss upon it to the proprietors, I refer to such as belongs to the

Nobility and Gentry, for, although their example has in this, as well

as in every thing else, _some_ effect upon those below them, it does

happen that, in this respect at least, the _middle classes_ are wiser

in their day and generation than their superiors, the Timber upon small

estates being generally taken down at an earlier period than on large

ones. There is indeed among the higher orders—of course with a few

exceptions—a prejudice against felling Timber, older than the oldest

Timber Tree in existence; and as _strong_ as the most enthusiastic

admirer of the beauties of landscape scenery can desire it to be: and

so far is this feeling carried, that, by many, Timber of the most

unsightly character, and in situations where it can be associated with

no idea connected with the scenery, is religiously spared, and spared

long after it has ceased to be either useful or ornamental where it

stands.

Having ventured thus strongly to point out the loss to proprietors,

I will now show, by an example, how the community is affected by the

disinclination to fell one particular kind of timber; viz., the Ash.

This tree is hardly ever cut down before it becomes exceedingly tender;

and as almost every agricultural implement is either wholly, or partly

composed of it, the consumers—those who wear out the wagons and carts,

the ploughs and harrows—are proportionate sufferers; for it cannot

for a moment be supposed, that timber which is in the last stage of

decay, or indeed, approaching to that stage, will wear half so long

as that which is cut down as soon as it has arrived at full maturity.

The period when it has done so, will be indicated to a practiced eye,

at a single glance, even with that class of trees which has had fair

play; or in other words, where _premature decay_ has not been brought

on by mal-treatment. But the latter class is by far the most numerous,

and it requires very little either of science, or of knowledge of a

practical kind, to teach a man how to deal with them. It is of no use

to let them stand. If they are not wanted for ornament, the sooner they

are felled the better, for the process of decay is very rapid in this

particular tree. Their early removal is further necessary, because they

injuriously affect the Farmer in another way, as I will show.

The roots, &c. of one single Ash Tree are said to amount to a million

in number, and to extend themselves as far all round the bole as the

branches. I do not profess to be able to form a very decided opinion

as to the number of the roots, rootlets, fibres, &c., but I have seen

quite enough of the habits of the tree to convince me, that the roots

extend themselves much farther than is here supposed; and it is well

known to all farmers, that to a distance far beyond this, vegetation

is almost totally destroyed; and that, near a Hedge-row (dividing

two arable fields) which is filled with filthy, scabbed, stunted Ash

Trees, which, from “mismanagement,” have been brought into such a

condition as positively to be making no progress at all, _sow what he

may_, the farmer can never _reap_ any thing: and yet these unsightly

things, which are the latest of all other of our common deciduous

trees, in getting their foliage, and almost the earliest out again,

are suffered to linger out their _feeble_, but _blighting_ existence,

until by slow decay they become so unsound, that the wind blows them

down, and they are fit for nothing but the fire! or, if they do not

actually reach this stage, they are only cut down because the owner has

the fear of such a result before his eyes! A volume might be written

with reference to this particular tree, were it necessary to take up

every one of the points which present themselves, as condemning the

present practice in its management, but that is not needed, for the

_Ash Tree_ is so generally met with in a diseased state, that it may be

considered as the subject of grosser “_mis_-management” than any other

of our domestic trees. If any one still deny this, let him look round

him and say, why Hedge-rows so abound every where, in puny, sickly,

Ash Timber, which _cannot possibly attain to a useful size_: and when

he has confessed the fact, that they really _do_ exist in that state,

I will reiterate the assertion, that the cause is bad management! If

_the present condition of Hedge-row Ash, generally_, does not prove

“_mis_-management,” I am at a loss to know what does, for when the

different kinds are planted upon a congenial soil, _if they be properly

treated_, they will continue to grow, more or less rapidly, according

to circumstances, and for a longer or shorter period, as the natural

term of their existence may rule: but as they are now treated, _they

are never healthy_, for the principle of decay is introduced at a very

early stage of their existence, and in consequence, premature old age

is brought on. To the absence of early training, may be attributed

much of what is seen to be wrong in the present condition and quality

of Hedge-row Timber, but much more to the vile practice of _mutilating

the trees_, which almost every where obtains. There is, indeed, in some

quarters, such perfect indifference manifested about the well-being of

the trees, that _free licence_ is allowed to the tenants of the land to

do as they will with them: and _free use_ they make of it, as may well

be supposed, and as is abundantly evident in all such places. And why

should it be otherwise? It has so long been the practice, and it is so

far out of their way to really understand the matter, that farmers may

well be excused. They cut off the roots, and reduce the extent of the

branches, of their enemy, in _self defence_; and without having the

remotest idea that they are doing so serious an injury to the property

of their landlords. This is fully proved by the fact, that they

treat their own trees in precisely the same way. It is, then, to the

indifference that has hitherto been manifested by the proprietors of

Hedge-row Timber, and the consequent prevalence of mistaken views on

the subject, that the present state of things is to be attributed. Some

gentlemen do indeed introduce into their Agreements, clauses affecting

to provide against the _mischievous pruning_ which is here condemned,

but, except in the neighbourhood of a mansion, where a strict look out

is generally kept, they are quite _inoperative_—they are a dead letter,

for not only does the _pruning_ go on, but, as I have just hinted, the

trees are often attacked _below too_, and deprived of their _roots_, as

well as their branches, thus cutting off their supply of nutriment from

the atmosphere above, and from their legitimate sources of supply from

the soil. Both these practices ought to be _most strictly interdicted_.

My indignation and regret have a thousand times been excited, on

seeing the noblest of all our Hedge-row Trees, the Oak, clipped of its

beautiful proportions, and reduced by repeated _snaring_, as it is most

aptly called, to the capacity and shape of a huge _besom_! and by this

truly infamous treatment, deprived not only of all its scenic beauty,

but actually of its specific character! and, if not altogether stopped

in its growth, rendered utterly worthless for application to the chief

end and purpose for which it is adapted and intended. I need not say,

that I mean—the building of ships.

Upon this subject there ought not to be two opinions: neither will

there, among those who really understand it; but it is much to be

lamented, that a very large portion of the Hedge-row Timber of this

country is in the hands of persons who either do _not_ understand the

management of it, or who are indifferent about it. It very frequently

happens, that there is no person but the Land Steward, who can make any

pretensions to a correct judgment in the matter, and he has often quite

enough to attend to, without so responsible a duty as this is—being

added to his department. He therefore, very naturally, attends to those

duties which are indispensable; and as for the Timber, &c. &c. he only

thinks about _it_ seriously, when he wishes to ascertain _how much of

it he can turn to profit_.

Every considerable estate ought to have a person upon it, whose

attention shall _exclusively_ be devoted to the supervision of the

Woods, Plantations and Hedge Rows, &c. He should be a _well-educated_

and an intelligent man; and should be so _well-paid for his services_,

as to feel that his employer has a moral claim upon him, for the

entire devotion of his _mind_, as well as his physical powers, to the

efficient discharge of his duties.

An inquiry into the _natural history_ of Hedge-row Timber, if I may so

speak of it, would furnish a field for highly interesting remark, and

it would assuredly remove any doubts that might remain in the minds of

those who have gone no farther than to _suspect_ that the management of

it has been bad. When it is considered that the Timber of our Hedges

is the product of _chance_, or even worse than that, that it has grown

to what it is, notwithstanding that it has been subjected to the most

barbarous treatment; it is impossible not to perceive, that if it had

been watched and tended as it _ought_ to have been, it would have

equalled any thing that could have been conceived of it.

The classes of trees which may be met with in our Hedge-rows are

various, and are so situated in many places, as to really give rise to

the idea just now referred to—that they are found there, more as a

matter of chance, than of design: and this may be assigned, partly at

least, as the reason why they have been so neglected, or so shamefully

used. If they had been planted, and if any calculation at all were made

before planting, it might be imagined that a gentleman would wish to

ascertain what would be the _surest_ mode of raising a class of fine

unblemished trees, whether they were Oaks, or Elms, or Ash, or any

other kind; and having carefully, and at some expense, introduced them

into his hedges, it is difficult to suppose, that he would either leave

them to shift for themselves, or to the tender mercies of their natural

enemies, the occupiers of the land on which they might be growing: it

is therefore more than probable, that a considerable proportion of them

are in the hedges more by accident than any thing else. But however

that may be, the fact remains the same: they are, very generally,

standing memorials of the ignorance of the men in whose care they have

been placed, and a triumphant vindication of the propriety of my title.

If Hedge-row Trees have length of bole, they have it—not because they

were properly trained and assisted when they were young, and therefore

needed it, but—in consequence, most likely, of indiscriminate lopping

and pruning at some former period of their growth, the fruits of which,

although now invisible to the unpracticed eye, will appear hereafter,

to the dismay, and serious loss, of the person who may have to saw them

up.

I have elsewhere given my opinion very freely on the subject of

pruning, but as it will be necessary just to glance at it, in

connection with Hedge-row Timber, I will again take the Oak, which is

almost the only tree that I would recommend for hedges. As this noble

tree will naturally grow of a bush-like shape, when standing alone,

it is absolutely necessary that it be pruned, or it will not acquire

sufficient length of stem. I am not, therefore, the wholesale condemner

of pruning, even of Hedge-row Trees, but I would have no pruning done

after they had arrived at a certain age—say, twenty years: all work of

this kind should be done during the _infancy_ of the tree, or not at

all. I would much sooner _cut down a tree, if it had not sufficient

length of bole_, and trust to the chance of raising a better _from

its stool_, than take off _large branches, particularly if it was not

over thirty years of age_. Indeed the former method of repairing the

mischief of long neglect, appears to me as one peculiarly adapted to

the circumstances in which some estates are placed, as to the timber;

and I should not hesitate to adopt it upon an extensive scale. I

have, in fact, seen many estates where I should cut down Oaks very

freely, which have _not_ length of bole, or which, from some cause or

other, are _not healthy_; even though they might not produce timber

enough to pay for the cost of cutting. There are estates within less

than two hours ride of my residence, which are _apparently_ well

stocked with timber, but it is of such quality that, were it under

my own management, I should instantly cut it down; and from a large

proportion of the stools I should train up a new race of trees. These

would, if well attended to, grow into a class and quality of timber,

very little, if at all, inferior to maiden trees; while, on the

other hand, from those which are standing, _whatever length of time

they may remain_, nothing can be expected, but a _small quantity of

timber, and that of middling quality_. But to return to _pruning_. In

a Wood, or a Plantation, trees will draw up each other to a certain

length, and many of the lateral branches, from the exclusion of light

and air, will die, and some of them will fall off; this is, of course,

_natural_ pruning: but in a Hedge-row, they have no such help, they

will, therefore, require _artificial_ pruning; which should commence

at the time of planting, and continue until it can be seen that they

will assuredly acquire ample length of bole. The kind of pruning which

is here advocated _cannot possibly do any harm, if it be well done_,

and done at a proper season. The soundness of an Oak will in no degree

be impaired by it; and consequently, it will be, on all accounts, more

serviceable for naval purposes, than if it were not pruned; for it will

not surely be contended, that clearness of grain, and length of stem,

are not likely to recommend it to the ship-builder. So far from having

a doubt upon this point, I am of opinion that timber thus carefully

trained, will be, on every account, _incomparably superior_ to that

which is at present obtained from our Hedge-rows;—it will exhibit a

healthy developement, from the pith to the alburnum; so that wherever

there is a _bend_, a _crook_, or a _knee_, in it, the purchaser will

be sure that it is _sound_—whereas the very opposite is the case with

by far the greater part of that which now comes into the market. The

reckless extent to which the abominable practice of pruning, lopping,

or _snaring_—whichever it may be called—is carried, renders the

conversion of timber a very hazardous speculation, and should long

since have taught the growers of it, to avoid the commission of such an

error themselves, and to impose a heavy penalty on all those belonging

to them, who should be found guilty of it.

To illustrate a little further the statement here made, and the

opinion here given, it may be remarked, that the effect of such a

vile mutilation of Hedge-row Timber as is, in almost every quarter,

permitted, is seen and felt most in those very parts where strength

is most wanted, and which, _if sound_, would render the timber so much

the more valuable. It is on the outsides of _bends_ or _knees_, that

blemishes are so frequently found, and which are often so considerable,

as to reduce the value of a valuable crook to almost nothing.

These defects in timber are sometimes so far within the body of the

tree, as to elude the scrutiny of the keenest eye, proving, in some

very old trees, that pruning is not an evil of modern date. In a still

greater proportion, as to the whole quantity, however, the eye of

Ship-builders, or Timber Merchants—all of whom have frequently been

bitten—will detect, from external appearances, the _snag-pruning,

covered over both with wood and bark_; and consequently, they protect

themselves as well as they can in their purchases, against the

contingency of unsound timber, by shaping their offers accordingly.

This, of course, affects the _seller_ in no inconsiderable degree, and

is one other reason why he should put a stop to the practice of pruning

altogether, except when it could be done under the eye of his own Wood

Manager.

The last point connected with Hedge-row Trees which I shall mention,

is the _planting_ of them; but upon this part of the subject, I shall

not say much. I might, indeed, have passed it over in silence, and

still have fulfilled the requirements of my Title-page; but inasmuch as

the planting of Hedge-row Timber, _must_ form a part of an _improved_

system of management, however it may be left out of the present

practice, it does not seem quite right to overlook it altogether.

If Hedge-row Trees are to succeed at all, they must have a _good

start_; and if they are to have a _good start_, there must, of

necessity, be some trouble bestowed in the preparation of the site on

which they are to be planted. In the fences of _new inclosures_ there

will be no difficulty at all. If the border, as it is often called,

be well prepared for the _quick_, it will be in a right state for an

Oak Tree; and it would really appear to be a piece of unaccountable

neglect—an inexplainable circumstance, as the act of a man of

business—if a tract of land were to be enclosed, and new fences put

down, without the opportunity being seized to plant a suitable number

of Oak Trees. I say, of _Oak_ Trees, because I am persuaded that it

would be very difficult indeed to find a locality where any other kind

of timber, other circumstances being equal, would be likely to pay

so well. In the line of every Quick fence, then, I should certainly

recommend that healthy Oak Plants, of four years old, which have been

at least twice transplanted in the nursery, should be inserted, at a

distance from each other—say, of twenty yards—and if they are properly

guarded and _nursed_, nothing is more certain, than that they will

become a fine race of trees. But planting young Oaks, or young trees

of any kind, in an _old Hedge-row_, is quite a different affair. It

is indeed an undertaking involving real difficulty, and requiring a

very considerable degree of skill on the part of the workman, and of

firmness and determination on the part of his employer.

It would be found all but impossible to rear a young Oak _in the exact

line_ of an old and vigorous thorn hedge; but there are many situations

which present much less difficulty. For example: In the year when a

hedge is plashed or laid, where there is a moderate space on the bank

which has been raised when the quick was first planted—say, of a foot

or more—there will be room for a tree; and in all cases, where the

bank has not been _pared down_, there will be more room than is here

supposed. Many other places, such as the sides of the banks of large

ditches, the gaps of hedges, &c. &c. may be met with, on almost every

estate, which ought to be filled with Oaks, after the ground has been

prepared in a suitable manner.

But, _a previous preparation of the plant is necessary_. Planting in

Hedge-rows, where planting has been done at all, has been performed

in the same ill-adapted way as every thing else relating to timber.

The plants have been taken out of the nursery, indiscriminately with

others, which have been intended for close planting; instead of having

such, and such only, as have been _twice or thrice shifted_, and each

time into a more exposed situation, and wider apart, in order that

they might acquire more fibrous roots, and induration of bark, and

thus be enabled to cope with, and surmount, the disadvantages of their

new position. Another point, which has previously been hinted at, is

the _guarding_ of the trees. No matter what the expense may be, if a

gentleman determines to have Hedge-row Timber, _he must guard it well_.

It stands more in need of the watchful eye of the Wood Manager than

almost any thing else: in fact, it is of little or no use planting at

all, if a good and sufficient guard fence be not immediately put down:

but, having put in good plants, and effectually protected them, I say

again, I know of no reason why Hedge-row Timber should not thrive and

prosper, and, ultimately, turn out as sound, as any other. That it is

not so with the race of Timber Trees now growing, except to a very

limited extent, I assert without fear of contradiction; and, with

the same confidence, I plead this fact as my justification, when I

re-assert, that their treatment, from first to last, is neither more

nor less, than a course of gross “MISMANAGEMENT.”