IX SCOTLAND.

291

SECT. IV.

OF INCLOSURES ON UPLAND ARABLE FARM3.

In such situations, a material purpose of fencing is to ob-tain shelter for the produce and live-stock, which ought there-fore to be a leading object in arranging the plan of their in-closure. Upland farms are generally cold, and their fieldsmust necessarily be often placed on slopes, where the soil ingeneral is neither so deep nor so rich as in low-lying lands.To secure early and rich grass, and to shelter the live-stock,the inclosures ought to be made considerably smaller thanin low farms. These observations are not meant to apply tosheep farms, though a few sheep may enter into the plan oftheir management. Belts of plantation judiciously planned,with fences of high stone-walls for their protection, togetherwith beech-hedges in proper places, and clumps or largerplantations interspersed, are of essential service in givingshelter to such upland farms, besides contributing greatly tobeautify the country.

Although white-thorn grows vigorously at a considerableelevation, and even on very high grounds, when it meets withdeep rich soil, it cannot be expected to answer on extensiveslopes and ridges, nor equally well all along extensive lines ofin closure. In many cases, larch will be found to succeed bet-ter. Beech is greatly superior to either; and, although notof quick growth, it prospers on dry gravels, where thornswould certainly fail. The defects of shelter from the fencesmay be very effectually remedied, by mixing a due propor-tion of ever-greens, especially Scots firs and Norway spruces,among the deciduous trees.

Considerable judgment and taste are requisite, for the duearrangement of inclosures on high arable farms ; for inter-