80 
the loose mould easily in search of nourishment, and our : 
plants spring up healthy and vigorous. 
The same care should be continued during the first three 
or four years. Weeds are to be cleared away, and the soil 
loosened occasionally, laying up a few inches of soil about the 
roots. It will even be advisable to apply occasionally some 
well digested and fresh soil. With such precautions, we 
cannot fail in establishing a fence, composed of plants in high 
and vigorous health. For the first year and a half, or two 
years, this will be sufficient. About the end of this period, 
however, we commence pruning; and on the time and man- 
ner in which this is performed, much of the future beauty 
and utility of the fence depends. Many commence this pro- 
cess too early, scarcely giving the plants time to shoot before 
they begin to curtail them. The consequence is, that the 
hedge becomes useless, for instead of thickening, as was 
intended, it gradually fills with shrubs of numerous, but 
weak and stunted branches, having the same appearance as 
those plants in pastures which have been subject to be fre- 
quently cropped by stock. A premature decay is brought 
on, the repeated removal of the young shoots exhausting 
the parent, by stimulating it to over exertion. Instead of 
this, it should be laid down as a rule, that the fence be 
undisturbed till it has attained the height at which it is to | 
remain, viz. five or six feet from the ground: when, for the 
first time, a gentle pruning becomes necessary. We ought 
to leave the main stem untouched, shortening the side 
branches, and suffering those near the root to grow long, 
and gradually tapering up in a wedge-like form. By this 
means young lateral shoots will spring out and fill up every 
interstice, till the whole presents in time the appearance of 
a solid leafy wall. This pyramidal form we ought in our 
future prunings carefully to preserve. By this means all 
the branches, those at the bottom as well as the top, will be 
alike exposed to the sunshine and the rain. Suckers will 
spring up, branches from the bottom of the stem will spread 
out and again divide, so that the base of the fence being broad 
and thick, it will keep out even the smallest kinds of stock. 
