IN SCOTLAND.
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wool, and tear it off in great quantities, to the great detri-ment of the flock, and the serious loss of the proprietor *.
In good soils, and where not too much exposed to severewinds, hedge-row trees add greatly to the shelter and beautyof the country •, but, on many accounts, planting the cornersof the fields is considered to be a preferable plan. When itis proposed to set trees in hedge-rows, they ought to be in-serted exactly in the line of the thorns, at distances of five orsix yards from each other. Jt is a common practice to plantthem on the top of the mound or clap-dike, but a very badone, as their roots are there placed in the very worst soil, andare exposed to much injury from drought, and likewise areapt to be left bare even of that bad soil, by the natural wast-ing of the bankf. Hedge-row trees, however, especiallyash, are great enemies to corn. The influence of their roots,in attracting moisture and fertility from the growing crops,arc evident to a considerable extent, on every arable spot intheir neighbourhood. When trees are cut down in hedge-rows, the thorns which grow among their dead roots general-ly die out, especially if the trees are of the pine or fir tribe J.
Hitherto the white-thorn only has been considered as thematerial of live-hedges •, but as it does not answer in everykind of soil and situation, it may be proper to give some ac-count of other trees and shrubs, which may be substituted in-many cases. Many other kinds of plants are as beautiful asthe thorn, and some of them are highly ornamental, whileothers are useful by affording fruits, or cuttings for variouspurposes ; yet no plant that we are acquainted with, is at allcomparable with the hawthorn for strong and durable hedges,when placed in suitable soils, and trained under good manage-ment.
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