New-York tribune., 1901-05-26
FOREST AND HEDGEROW
A PRACTICAL BOOK ON GROWING
TREES.
GROWING
OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS BY John
Nlsoet- tiaddon Hall Library) I2mo. PIP $40.

lands is in its earlier stages a history Of rova-
tyranny Hunting being the pet pastime Of |
kings, large tracts Of land were ruthlessly "af-
forested" without regard to the rights of owners
The forged forest laws of Canute enforced by |
William I, prescribed penalties for killing stag
within the boundaries of a royal forest almost |
as great as those exacted for numbering a
human being. Even TO chase a stag so as to
cause 1t TO be out of breath meant outlawry for
bondman, who then became so-called /
"friendless man It not until the reign OF
Henry III that the law prescribing death or
mutilation for killing the royal deer was re-
pealed. In the last year Of the reign of Edward
~ law was framed authorizing the cutting |
and sale Of woods, this statute recognizing for /
the first time in the history OF England that a
subject may own a forest. By the time Henry |
VIII appeared upon the scene law was neces- |
sary for the ''repantation of forest trees
the spois and devastations that have been made |
in The woods In Dr. Nsbet's entertaining |
volume find a thorough examination of for |
estry questions, with urgent and judicious ap- |
peals for the reforestations of the countless |
tracts Of denuded land in the British Isles. His
facts and deductions may be read with profit by
Americans, who as wasteful Of their precious
woodlands as their British forbears. He
declares that the economic conditions now al
ready obtaining and practically certain soon TO
become greatly accentuated such that the
present sources of supply throughout the world
just able 10 meet the existing demand for
building purposes, etc. His chapters dealing
with different trees their qualities and uses, are
of great interest and fun Of suggestion. In
Continental methods he has fruitful field for
Illustrative instances as in the case Of the
apple, pear and plum trees planted along many
public roads in Germany-trees which cover the
cost Of maintaining the highway.
Well indeed, would il be for John Bull if he
would condescend to take lessons Of Germany
IN the mattery Of forestry. At present he is be-
slowing upon foreigners every year many mill
ions Of dollars for timber which he might with
much accruing advantage grow on his own soil.
The British woodlands aggregate something over
three million acres, are mostly in private hands
and have long been in unsatisfactory condition.
Indifference the lack of technical knowledge
and sporting considerations all responsible
for this. On many large estates rabbits are per
rltted 10 exist in such enormous numbers that
as our author tells Us, they render the natural
regeneration Of the coppce all but impossible
When deep snow covers the ground they XIII
even the large trees by gnawing away the DARK
They are sure TO attack the most valuable
kinds Of young timber oak, ash, beech, larch
are most toothsome dainties to them In ad-
dition TO this woodland loss the landholder mas
often TO pay heavy damages to his farming Ten
for the FakaSeS OF lit dillii4o4o A-4 NAi~ .-
rounding fields One landlord not long ago PAID
500 for damage done TO fields around wood OF
only 4615 acres-and he was not even trying 10
preserve the ground game. The preservation OF
game birds while it does not, to the same extent
interfere with economic forestry, does, as now
managed involve loss in the yield. This IS be-
cause thinning telling and planting operations
are carried on in seasons which suit the birds.
and do not suit the trees. If the good OF the
woodlands alone were to be considered, the
consequent work would doubt disturb the
birds and increase their shyness, but the reader
cannot but agree with DR.. Nisbet in his con- !
yiction that 1t would certainly tend to raise
rheaeant shooting once more from the low level \
Of mere speed and craftsmanship up 10 the
higher position il once occupied branch of
true sport
England would be far less lovely than she is
II she were deprived of her hedges, those bar
riers of living green that have been set ior use
and beauty from immemorial times a certain
number Of standard trees are grown in nearly
every hedgerow at more or less regular inter-
walls though this is good, Of course lot
either arabic or pasture land, but 1t Is 10 DC
bonea that thrift Will never enforce the bahsh-
mont az ANYTHING so beautiful. DR.. Nlspet De-
1iexee that the least harmful trees in hedge
- 80 .ha ooinor kinds such mountain