POLLARDS are trees which lune had their tops repeatedly cut off for the sake of the faggot-wood, which I. used for burning and heating bakers' ovens. The appearance of an old pollard may, in particular situations, be thought picturesque, but nothing can be more unsightly in a landscape than rows of pollards bordering every inelosure, as seen in some countries. It is only in the case of a few trees of quick growth, such as willows and poplars, that there is a profit in making pollards of them. Where wood is required for fuel, it Is better to plant a good coppice interspersed with timber-trees; and if this be done judiciously on good sound land, the quantity taken (rein the farm for this purpose will be as profitable as if it had been kept in cultivation. Trees are often planted iu soils which arc not worth cultivating ; and hence time profit from a good coppice is usually under rated P • but if the damage done to the land by the roots and shade of trees be taken into tiro account, it will be found that it is more profitable to have the wood growing by itself.
On the margin of low rivers running through marshy grounds, it may be profitable to plant willows, poplars, and other soft-wooded mud rapidly-growing trees, in order to lop them at stated intervals. Their
timber would be of little value if they were loft in their natural state ; but being lopped every seventh year, they produce rods and faggots, which are readily disposed of. Hence the common saying that "a willow will buy a horse before an oak will buy the saddle." To manage pollards advantageously the head of the tree should be cut off at a moderate height while the tree is young, and the shoots which spring from the crown must be frequently eat off before they begin to branch out. Thus a good head is formed, throwing out many shoots, which may then be left to grow till they are of a useful size. The willow takes root so readily, that if a branch twelve or fourteen feet long is put two feet into the ground, it will grow, and form a tree at once, which after a few loppinge will become a pollard.
If the appearance of rows of pollards is unsightly, the cutting the side branches of trees in hedgerow's, leaving only a little tuft at the top, is much worse. No branch above ten feet from the ground should ever be permitted to be cut by a tenant, nor the top of any tree to be cut off in order to make a pollard of it, and a clause to that effect, with t a severe penalt , should be inserted In every lease.