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.”
THE END.
Printed by J. Perfect, Cartergate, Newark.