do as they will with them: and _free use_ they make of it, as may well be supposed, and as is abundantly evident in all such places. And why should it be otherwise? It has so long been the practice, and it is so far out of their way to really understand the matter, that farmers may well be excused. They cut off the roots, and reduce the extent of the branches, of their enemy, in _self defence_; and without having the remotest idea that they are doing so serious an injury to the property of their landlords. This is fully proved by the fact, that they treat their own trees in precisely the same way. It is, then, to the indifference that has hitherto been manifested by the proprietors of Hedge-row Timber, and the consequent prevalence of mistaken views on the subject, that the present state of things is to be attributed. Some gentlemen do indeed introduce into their Agreements, clauses affecting to provide against the _mischievous pruning_ which is here condemned, but, except in the neighbourhood of a mansion, where a strict look out is generally kept, they are quite _inoperative_—they are a dead letter, for not only does the _pruning_ go on, but, as I have just hinted, the trees are often attacked _below too_, and deprived of their _roots_, as well as their branches, thus cutting off their supply of nutriment from the atmosphere above, and from their legitimate sources of supply from the soil. Both these practices ought to be _most strictly interdicted_. My indignation and regret have a thousand times been excited, on seeing the noblest of all our Hedge-row Trees, the Oak, clipped of its beautiful proportions, and reduced by repeated _snaring_, as it is most aptly called, to the capacity and shape of a huge _besom_! and by this truly infamous treatment, deprived not only of all its scenic beauty, but actually of its specific character! and, if not altogether stopped in its growth, rendered utterly worthless for application to the chief end and purpose for which it is adapted and intended. I need not say, that I mean—the building of ships. Upon this subject there ought not to be two opinions: neither will there, among those who really understand it; but it is much to be lamented, that a very large portion of the Hedge-row Timber of this country is in the hands of persons who either do _not_ understand the management of it, or who are indifferent about it. It very frequently happens, that there is no person but the Land Steward, who can make any pretensions to a correct judgment in the matter, and he has often quite enough to attend to, without so responsible a duty as this is—being added to his department. He therefore, very naturally, attends to those duties which are indispensable; and as for the Timber, &c. &c. he only thinks about _it_ seriously, when he wishes to ascertain _how much of it he can turn to profit_.