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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



ruaaing a spur drain parallel to and on each side of 

 the division ; or it the lie of the ground does not admit 

 of that method, by bringing the ends of the drains dis- 

 tributed generally through the field into moderate 

 proximity. But in either plan an intervening distance 

 must be observed, sufficient to render it impossible for 

 the root fibres to reach and invade the pipes. 



But there is still another preliminary step, which to 

 omit is extremely impolitic, except where the circum- 

 stances of the soil are particularly favourable to the rapid 

 growth of plants of the tree kind, namely, that of 

 trenching the land in which the young plants are to be 

 set. Nowhere should the breadth be less than three 

 feet; in poor soils it ought not to be less than five. 

 Thus encouraged, the hedge will sooner arrive at ma- 

 turity, by several years, and thus the yearly outlay and 

 labour expended in protecting it whilst unable to pro- 

 tect itself will be proportionally lessened. Nay, fur- 

 ther, to promote this desirable object, many judicious 

 planters apply at the outset a moderate quantity of 

 manure, and, from time to time, repeat this encou- 

 ragement, should symptoms of languishing growth 

 present themselves. With regard to the selection of 

 plants, let no false economy lead to the use of those of 

 less age than five years, or which have not undergone 

 the process of transplanting in the nursery. By all au- 

 thorities the season most proper for putting in is held 

 to be that which intervenes between the fall of the leaf 

 and mid-winter. All this done, then may the planter 

 reasonably hope to possess in after years the comfort 

 and advantage of an efficient fence — provided (and alas ! 

 the proviso is a large one) that he pales it off from the 

 inroad of beasts, keeps in some suitable depot a 

 ready supply of supernumerary plants to replace 

 the ravages committed by hares and rabbits in severe 

 winters, and takes order for periodical hoeing, spudding, 

 and weeding with all the precision and care of garden 

 cultivation. Let no man, therefore, propose to himself 

 the throwing down of existing hedge-rows with a view 

 to the construction of new lines, who cannot rely on 

 himself to carry out for several successive years a system 

 of culture in this operation as exact and seasonable as 

 that which he bestows on his shubberies, or the bushes 

 of his kitchen garden. 



As regards the pruning of hedges, there has been 

 much diversity of opinion. By some, the free use of 

 the shears and bill -hook yeai-ly, from infancy to full- 

 growth, has been confidently advocated. With physio- 

 logical principle this practice is altogether irreconcile- 

 able; and, accordingly, the best authorities now teach, 

 that the plants should be allowed to grow in their natu. 

 ral forms, with no interference by pruning except to the 

 extent of removing any branches oflfering to grow in 

 perverse or unsymmetrical forms ; and on no account 

 ought the stem or leading shoot to be touched till the de- 

 sired height of the fence be attained. Under this treat- 

 ment an untidy and seemingly neglected growth will no 

 doubt be exhibited ; but thereby will a vigorous vegeta- 

 tive energy be kept up, and when the proper time of 



pruning has at last arrived, the functions of the plants will 

 havfc acquired a strength capable of sustaining without 

 injury the shock of the operation. But even at maturity 

 this is a process which may very easily be overdone. 

 " In many localities," said that eminently practical as 

 well as scientific agriculturist, Mr. Owen Wallis, of 

 Overton Grange, Northamptonshire, addressing the 

 London Farmers' Club, " the hedges have been so 

 weakened by annual cuttings, that they are no longer of 

 use as fences against cattle and horses. With regard to 

 this practice of cutting the hedges, I am decidedly of 

 opinion that it must be discontinued, or there will not 

 be a fence in the country that will even stop a sheep. 

 To old hedges it is utter ruin, and it will very soon so 

 weaken the young fences, as to make them little better 

 than old ones. I have, therefore, ceased on my own 

 farm to cut them annually ; nor do I think I shall soon 

 be induced to resume the practice. I am aware that I 

 have done so at the expense of that appearance of neat- 

 ness and order, that nicely trimmed fences impart to a 

 farm, and at risk of being considered an untidy fellow 

 by those who do not know my reasons for the change. 

 There is no occasion, however, to allow hedges to grow 

 10 the size they did in former times ; neither is there 

 any necessity for wide open ditches by the side of them." 

 Mr. Wallis then proceeded to recommend that a periodi- 

 cal trimming, once in each course of cropping, ought, 

 nevertheless, to be resorted to ; but with this limitation, 

 that only one side should be done in one season. By 

 this means the unmaimed branches and sprays on the 

 untouched side are left to carry on the functions of the 

 plant in adequate vigour under the infliction to which 

 it has been subjected at the other ; and by the time the 

 next round of cropping arrives, the shorn side will have 

 acquired full physical strength to resist trespass, and 

 functional energy sufficient to withstand the shock of 

 the shears and hedge-bill, on the other. 



As to the season for pruning, early Spring or latter 

 Autumn is the best ; and the latter Spring or early Au- 

 tumn the worst, the juices of the plant being then in 

 the state of greatest activity, and therefore in the aptest 

 state to bleed to a fatal extent at the many extremities 

 of the wounded twigs. 



But under the best care, the management of hedge- 

 rows is an irksome and expensive, and not unfrequently 

 an unsuccessful task, and fully justifies the axiom that 

 the fewer their number the less the trials of the farmer's 

 temper and patience. Surely, then, it is comfortable to 

 think, that whether he be resolved to abide by animal 

 strength as his motive power in field cultivation, or to 

 take to his aid the mighty agency of steam for this pur- 

 pose, encreased magnitude in his inclosures are in either 

 case alike economically advantageous ; nay, more — this 

 agricultural reformation would be thrice blessed, since 

 the same re -arrangement which promotes economy in 

 tillage procedure, enhances the fertility of the crops, 

 and dimimishes the cost of maintaining the farm in a 

 thoroughly fenced condition. 



