156 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



more than six sterns to grow up, and these ought, at the same time, to be as 

 much encouraged to grow in a perpendicular form as possible. In order to do 

 this, and greatly to facilitate tlie whole operation, a light scantling rail, or a 

 line of round poles, might be run along the centre of the hedge, as a sort of 

 support and fixture till such time as it gains a stability in itself. This centre 

 piece could be supported on light stakes driven into the line of hedge at inter- 

 vals, and this centre rail either fixed on the top of tlie stakes or along the sides 

 with a nail. After one or two years' growth of these strong shoots, the next 

 process is to form the hedge by crossing and pleating these at so much of an 

 angle as will form a sort of net work which will make such a close body in a 

 litUe time that only a small bird will get through it. To do this work of cross- 

 ing and pleating with facilit}^ the hands of two persons are necessary. The 

 shoots should all be laid, in crossing each other, from right to left, and fixed 

 at some of these crossings with small copper wire, put up in a circular coil and 

 kept in a pocket with the end of the wire out to be available when wanted. 

 One party being thus equipped the one would be laying in and holding the 

 shoots together at the proper distances, while the other would put the wire round 

 and fix it witii a cross twitch and cut it off with a pair of small nippers or shears 

 for the purpose. It would also be well to have as many of the branches as possible 

 to cross, and fix them together a little above the centre rail, so as to give a pro- 

 per balance and stability to the whole body of the hedge. This whole work of 

 fixing, when the jiarties are accustomed to the work, will be done with great 

 ease and facility and remain a permanent fixture. It is possible that many of 

 these branches will thus unite in a little time, as a graft in a sort of in-arching 

 process, by which the whole hedge will become as one solid body. 



The next question is, how high is this hedge wanted? I should think it ought 

 to be cut off at first at 4^ or 5 feet as there will be a tendency for it to get a 

 little higher annually. 



The last process to describe in the plan of this hedge in order to make it a 

 success is the annual dressing with a hedge or switching knife so as to keep it 

 close and near to the same height. This must be well attended to, otherwise 

 the whole work and purpose of this hedge fence will in a great measure be 

 frustrated. 



This annual cutting and dressing with a hedge or switching knife can be 

 done any time from the beginning of September, when the season's growth is 

 made, until the beginning of May in the following year. It is quite a simple 

 and interesting work after a person has acquired, a little skill and practice in 

 the operation. A man first goes along one side cutting off in the first place 

 any lateral siioots near to the bottom. A good hedger always cuts upward. 

 The knife for light twigs is always a little hooked at the end and both hands 

 are used in catching and cutting the lower twigs. After these are cleared off 

 the upper branches are cut away with one measured stroke of the arm as near 

 to the old cut as possible. When one side has thus been done, the man turns 

 and the other side is done up in the same way. By this means the hedge is 

 yearly kept to a proper uniform size and in such bounds that a plough can 

 work close up to it. 



Tlie cost of this annual dressing amounts to a little each year, but it need 

 only be a very little, if a farmer is skilled to do this work Inmself . I could 

 engage to do it for two cents per rod and make fair wages at that 

 contract. ]3ut in this progressive age there are machines got up for doing 

 this very kind of work. I saw a model of one mvself exhibited this fall at the 



