Country rambles in England : $b or, Journal of a naturalistKnapp, J. L. (John Leonard)
History
Country rambles in England : $b or, Journal of a naturalist
Knapp, J. L. (John Leonard)
Natural history -- England; Natural history -- Outdoor books
In noticing above, that this solution is generally harmless, it is
requisite that mention should be made of the few instances in which it
has been observed to be injurious. I have applied it to many specimens
of foreign and British insects, and commonly observed no indication of
its having been used, when the creatures had become dry. But to confine
our attentions to English specimens, when the solution is made stronger
than recommended, it will, after a time, injure the fine yellow of the
sulphur butterfly (papilio rhamni), by turning parts of it brown and
dirty; but even in its reduced state it has a manifest effect upon the
colors of two of our moths, the Dartford emerald (phalæna lucidata), and
what is commonly called the green housewife moth (phalæna vernaria)
changing their plumage, in several places, to a red buffy hue, when at
the same time the beautiful green wings of the small oak-moth (phalæna
viridana) are in no way altered by it. But notwithstanding these
circumstances, it will, I apprehend, be considered as a very useful
preservative, and save many specimens from destruction which other means
usually fail of effecting.
There are not many of our rural practices, that deserve more the
disapprobation of the landed proprietor than that of pollarding
trees.[74] “It is an evil under the sun, and common among men.” Here it
is universal. This system of cutting off the heads of the young trees in
the hedge-rows is resorted to by the farmer for the purpose of forcing
them, thus deprived of their leaders, to throw out collateral shoots,
serving for stakes for the fences, and for firewood. The purposes are
effected; but of all hopes of timber, or profit to the proprietor, there
is an end. No trees suffer more in this respect than the ash.
Prohibitions against mangling trees, in agreements, are usual; but, with
some exceptions in regard to oak, little attention seems paid to the
covenant, as is obvious on the most cursory view of the country in any
direction; whereas the ash is not a less valuable tree, from its
thriving more universally in all situations, and becoming saleable in a
shorter period. One or two generations must pass before an oak should be
felled; but the ash becomes useful wood while its more respected
companion is but a sapling. These prohibitions should not simply be
engrossed on the parchment, but the agent ought strictly to notice any
infringement; and young ash trees should be more especially guarded
because they are the most likely to suffer, from their producing the
greatest quantity of lop in the shortest time. The injury done by this
practice to the present landlord and his successors is beyond
estimation, as the numbers destroyed, and the vigor of their growth,
must be first known; but there is not a farm of any extent from which
hundreds of ash trees might not have been felled, had their growth been
permitted, making an annual return; whereas nothing can be obtained now
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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