CHAPTER X

TREES SUITABLE FOR HEDGEROW AND FIELD PLANTING

The well-founded complaint that hedgerow and field trees harbour birds to the serious destruction of the grain crops is largely counterbalanced by their ornamental appearance and the shelter they afford both to man and beast.

In proceeding to consider the trees that are most suitable for hedgerow and field planting four important points must be kept in view. (1) That the spread of branches is, comparatively speaking, small in proportion to the tree’s height; (2) that the roots have a downward tendency, or do not ramify to too great an extent; (3) that the tree is well adapted for exposed situations and standing singly; and (4) that the timber value is such as to compensate in some degree for the cost of planting and after-management in the matter of pruning and fencing. Although we rarely find all these qualities concentrated in one tree, still, with careful choice and good after-management, much may be done to produce the desired effect, even in trees of a partially opposite character.

That the wrong class of timber is often planted in our hedgerows and fields is painfully apparent to every one who has paid attention to the subject—trees of wide-spreading habit both in root and branch occupying positions and doing irreparable damage, where others of less obtrusive nature could with advantage have been selected to take their place. Timely and judicious pruning is of the utmost importance in the production of hedgerow timber: but to be productive of the best results, the work must be attended to early, and prosecuted at intervals, as by skilfully shortening the branches from time to time, the spread of root is also checked, thereby securing a double benefit to the farmer and the land.

The =Cornish Elm= (_Ulmus cornubiense_), unfortunately, is far too seldom seen either as a standard or in our woodlands, for which the propagator is greatly to blame, there not being offered anything like a sufficient quantity to meet the demand. As a park or hedgerow tree this distinct and well-marked variety of the elm has much to recommend it—such as a narrow branch-spread in proportion to the height, suitability for exposed situations, and the very decided ornamental character it imparts to the landscape when properly placed.

The principal advantages of this tree for hedgerow or field planting are that no pruning is required to keep the branches in bounds, that the spread of branches is very small in proportion to the tree’s height, and that the roots do not approach too near the surface, or ramify to any great extent, so as to become injurious to crops in their immediate vicinity.

The =English Elm= (_Ulmus campestris_) is another tree of value for hedgerow planting, and is, perhaps, more commonly used for that purpose than any other. Like the Cornish variety, though in very much less degree, it has an upward inclination, the ramification of its branches being narrow in proportion to its height, while as an ornamental tree and valuable timber-producer it is held in high esteem.

As a shelter tree it is of great value, and as the branches, particularly the lower, seldom spread to a great extent, the injury caused to the adjoining crop is usually not very serious.

The =British Oak= (_Quercus Robur_) is of about equal value with the elm for hedgerow planting—indeed by careful manipulation it is even superior to that tree, being, perhaps, less injurious to the herbage beneath it, and the roots having a greater downward tendency. As an ornamental tree and valuable timber-producer the oak requires no praise from us, these qualities having been recognised from the earliest date.

It bears pruning with impunity, so that all ungainly or far-spreading branches can be cut back or foreshortened at pleasure; while those near the ground, which in any way interfere with the fence or crop, can, by judicious management, be altogether removed. Several of the fastigiate forms of the oak are equally, if not better, suited for hedgerow planting.

The =Lombardy Poplar= (_Populus fastigiata_).—Although of but little value as a timber-producer, yet, as an ornamental tree of singular habit and appearance, the Lombardy poplar is almost unique amongst our hardy deciduous trees.

When planted in judiciously-arranged clumps in the corners of fields, or hedgerows, this poplar produces a most pleasing effect in the landscape: and, being of close, fastigiate growth, it is not in the least injurious to crops in its immediate vicinity. No tree is, however, more readily misplaced than the one in question; and in planting it is well to avoid the prevalent mistake of placing in lines, squares, round or oval forms, or even in single specimens, these methods being highly objectionable and devoid of good taste—that is, if we desire to preserve in the landscape a natural appearance.

The =Sycamore= (_Acer pseudo-platanus_), as a standard tree, either in field or fence, is worthy of attention, not only for its well-known ornamental character, but also on account of the great value of the wood produced, as it is in this latter respect, perhaps, second to none. As a farmer’s tree it is, also, not one of the worst; for, although the branches incline to spread, still, by careful manipulation in the way of pruning, this may be corrected without doing injury to too great an extent to the ornamental qualities of the tree. For imparting both shade and shelter to farm stock the sycamore may be used with the best advantage. Few trees produce such valuable timber when grown singly or in clumps in the corners of fields and paddocks as the sycamore, and no other repays so fully the damage it occasions to fences and the surrounding ground.

The =Hornbeam= (_Carpinus betulus_), for exposed situations and poor soils, has few, if any, equals. The roots do not run near the surface, but, like those of the oak, derive sustenance at a considerable distance from it, and this quality, combined with its somewhat upright inclination of growth and hardy nature, renders it well adapted for hedgerow or field planting, where shelter combined with effect is required.

The =Lime= (_Tilia Europæa_), although one of our most ornamental trees, can hardly be recommended as suitable for situations in which the underlying herbage is at stake. For this latter reason alone, however, can it be omitted from our list, and, as it bears pruning well, does not to any great extent impoverish the adjoining ground. It is at all times a pleasing object in the landscape, and it will therefore be seen that the evil done by shade is in a great degree compensated for.

Amongst coniferous trees, if we except the =Larch= and =Scotch Fir=, few are at all suitable for the end in question. The larch is a much-neglected fence and park tree, this being attributable to an erroneous impression that it is of too stiff and cold an appearance, either for standing singly or giving effect to the landscape. Nothing can, however, be farther from the facts, as when placed so that its fine form is seen to advantage, few deciduous trees are more picturesque than the larch, or offer a better contrast to the ordinary run of our forest trees. It also occasions less damage to the undergrowing herbage than most trees, while, at the same time, it enriches the soil to a great extent by the annual shedding of its leaves.

The =Scotch Fir=, especially for shelter-giving purposes, has much to recommend it for being extensively planted as stock-shelter in the corners of exposed fields.

As it usually rises to a great height without branches, it cannot be considered as extremely injurious to its surroundings, although the shallow-running roots can hardly be spoken of as non-injurious to the greensward.

=Planting and Fencing.=—Whether for planting in the hedgerow or singly in the fields, good, strong, well-rooted specimens should always be used—indeed, it is well when a home nursery is on the estate to have these specially prepared, by frequent transplantings for a few years previous to their final planting out. The nursery management will require both care and experience, so that trees with strong, fibrous roots equally distributed around the stem may be produced; lanky, ill-grown, and ill-rooted plants having but a poor chance of succeeding under the circumstances. From 10 ft. to 14 ft. will be found the most suitable size for the purpose under consideration. The pits for their reception should be opened of sufficient size to admit the roots without cramping or bending, the bottom and sides being made loose and free with a pick—it will be all the better if the pits have been opened for some time previously to planting, the winter frosts having a beneficial effect in clearing and pulverizing the soil.

This is, however, seldom convenient, as, if in the field, they become filled in, and trampled on by cattle, while gaps in the fences occasioned by these cannot well remain open for any length of time.

The better plan—at least, we have found it so—is to open the pits, plant the trees, and have these fenced in on the same day, as by this method no part of the work has ever to be done a second time, everything being finished up as the work proceeds. In planting, be careful to spread the roots out in an even manner around the stem, as, by so doing, the tree is not only more firmly fixed in the ground, but is enabled to collect food from all quarters.

Fencing should follow up at once the work of planting, as, if the young trees are allowed to remain unprotected for any length of time, they get injured by the farm stock. The fences may be of any desired kind, but, as they are only required for a few years, a simple erection made of small larch poles about 8 ft. long, driven firmly into the ground in a circle around the tree, say, 18 in. from the stem, and made fast to hoops of wood at top, and half-way up, will be found sufficient. Wooden erections are, perhaps, preferable to those made of iron for fencing hedgerow trees, as they seldom require renewing, for by the time the fence has decayed the trees will, in most cases, be out of harm’s way.

For shelter and shade clumps in fields probably the best trees to use are the oak and sycamore, the value of timber produced being also a valuable asset.

=Pruning and After-Management.=—For at least the first ten years after planting, careful and regular pruning of hedgerow and field timber should in all cases be attended to, bearing in mind that timely attention in this way will alone obviate the necessity for heavy prunings at any future stage of the tree’s growth.

Early and judicious pruning is necessary to the trees in question; for it is well known that if branches are allowed to ramify at will, greater injury to the underlying herbage must be committed than where timely pruning and shortening of all straggling branches has been attended to.

Early summer pruning, say, in the month of June, is to be recommended, as at that time, owing to the active circulation of the sap, the wounds heal up much more quickly than when the operation is performed at any other season of the year. The pruning should be performed by a person who is thoroughly conversant with the work, haphazard cutting and hewing, by an inexperienced hand, and at any season, being injurious. If the young trees have been well attended to in the matter of pruning whilst in the nursery border, little or no attention will afterwards be required—at least for a number of years.

The main object in pruning both hedgerow and field trees is to develop a valuable main stem which is only to diverge into branches at a given height from the ground, and to prevent the overgrowth of straggling branches farther up, so as to maintain a symmetrical and rather fastigiate head.