THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



17 



FENCES. 



When the whole length of the site of the hedge has 

 been trenched, stones picked out, and weeds eradicated, 

 as previously described, and any little inequality of 

 surface nicely levelled, the line is next stretched some- 

 what tightly, on which the operator gets, and by shifting 

 himself along sideways, treads and firms the trenched 

 soil to a breadth of about 6 inches on each side of the 

 line, and along its entire length. In returning he levels 

 down, and beats smooth his track with the back of his 

 spade, and fills up any hollow or depression that may 

 exist. The next operation is to make a neat opening on 

 that side of the line on which it is fixed the hedge shall 

 be, and of a depth sufficient for the roots of the plants, 

 which will vary from 6 to 10 inches. The plants are 

 now brought forward and prepared by cutting off the 

 tops, leaving about 4 inches of stem next the roots, 

 and in putting them in the opening along the side of the 

 firm and level edge, care must be taken to leave about 

 2 inches of the stem above the surface ; the soil is care- 

 fully returned, and the whole made firm and level, and 

 the operation is complete. 



The cost of labour for this mode of fence, trenching, 

 planting, and otherwise completing, will not exceed 

 Is. 6J. per chain. 



We have hitherto been writing on the supposition of 

 the soil and situation being favourable for the growth 

 of the thorn ; but on thin, light soils, and exposed 

 situations, it seldom makes a permanent or satisfactory 

 fence unless planted in combination with the beech, 

 which on very exposed situations — provided the soil 

 be light and dry — will thrive and do well, and act 

 as a nurse to the more delicate thorn. Therefore, on 

 such situations we should recommend a mixture of one 

 or two-thirds beech with the thorns ; and on upland 

 farms, where the chances of the latter doing well is at all 

 times precarious and uncertain, a fence composed en- 

 tirely of beech-plants would not only thrive better, but, 

 by retaining its leaves through the winter, afford shelter 

 almost invaluable on those high-lying situations. The 

 mode of preparing and planting a mixed, or entire 

 beech-hedge, is similar to what we have described for 

 the thorn, the only difference being that, while the thorn 

 requires an annual pruning in its earlier stages, the beech 

 must not be cut at all until it is firmly established in 

 the soil, when, like the thorn, it must receive a regular 

 annual cutting. 



We now come to the after-management of the young 

 hedge, and on this head, unless due care and attention be 

 paid, the most favourable of soils, situations, and modes 

 of planting will not secure the cultivator from failure and 

 disappointment. The great essentials necessary to pro- 

 mote a healthy and vigorous growth of fence are, that 

 the roots be kept free from weeds ; that it is regularly 

 trimmed over with the switching-knife ; and that, 

 during its early stages, it is protected from the ravages 

 of hares and rabbits. Where such are abundant, it i .' 



almost a sheer waste of time and money to plant hedges, 

 unless effectual means be taken to aflford them pro- 

 tection. 



For upwards of five years I was witness to the bane- 

 ful effects produced by their nibbling, which rendered 

 inert and comparatively useless management that, under 

 happier auspices, would have raised good and perma- 

 nent hedges. During the spring months, they cropped 

 the tender shoots from the stem, and in not a few in- 

 stances stripped the bark so completely from the plants, 

 as to render their decease a matter of certainty. At 

 five, they had made no more wood than they should 

 have done at two years ; and, indeed, so much was the 

 general health impaired, that it was very doubtful whe- 

 ther any future management would succeed in restoring 

 them to vigour. 



Therefore, where hares or rabbits are numerous, it is 

 imperatively necessary to have the young hedge pro- 

 tected from their browsing. There are various ways of 

 accomplishing this ; and when the fence is protected on 

 either side by railing, it is a very neat and expeditious 

 method to fasten wire netting to the rails on each side 

 the hedge, which answers the purpose admirably ; and 

 when no longer wanted, the wire can be rolled up and 

 preserved for a future occasion. The cost of the wire 

 is rather considerable, which will probably deter many 

 from following this plan; and, except to those who have 

 the means of putting the netting to future use, the pur- 

 chase of it is hardly to be recommended. Another way 

 of protection is by cutting on each side the hedge what 

 is known locally as a "dead fence." This is performed 

 by digging at a proper distance from the hedge a trench, 

 into which are inserted thorns, cut to something near 

 one length, placed close enough to prevent the ingress 

 of hares or rabbits, and high enough to protect the 

 hedge from the inroads or encroachments of cattle. 

 This, if properly made, will afford ample security from 

 the incursions of the game as long as there is necessity 

 for it, though it may require renewing before the young 

 hedge is fence enough for cattle. This species of pro- 

 tection, though primitive, is probably, on the whole, as 

 economical and as suitably adapted to the purpose as 

 others of more showy appearance. The only great ob- 

 jection to it is, that it too much excludes the air — a 

 circumstance not at all favourable for the well-doing of 

 the hedge, though this may in a great measure be over- 

 come by keeping it a pretty good distance from the 

 plants on either side. 



We have now the hedge planted, and secured from 

 the intrusions of cattle and vermin ; and the next great 

 points of management are, that it is regularly cut, and 

 kept free from weeds. The form which it is intended 

 the hedge should assume, should now be determined 

 on ; and every subsequent cut of the knife should tend 

 to encourage the growth of the hedge in that form. The 

 best and most approved form of a cultivated thorn- 



