1884.] THOEN HEDGES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 183 



down and distorts the thin, flexible stem. The average rainfall of 

 the district at 7,000 feet elevation, for the last thirteen years, reaches 

 the great quantity of (51 inches; and the maximum temperature 

 sometimes reaches 82'^ Fahr., while the minimum sinks as low as 

 28*^ Fahr. The Deodar reaches tlie diameter of 2 feet at the age 

 of 120 years, and at an advanced age it sometimes attains the 

 enormous height of 1G4 feet. 



Among numerous other interesting articles are to be found some 

 extracts from the Timber Trades Journal, and a short biography 

 of the late Dr. Gustav Heyer, Privy Councillor and Professor 

 of Forestry in the University of INIunich. 



At the end of the Magazine are extracts given from official 

 Gazettes relating to personal changes, appointments, and promotions 

 in the Indian Forest Service. 



THORN HEDGES AND THEIB MANAGEMENT 

 |.,^ITH most of what Mr. Andrew Slater, jun,, said about 

 ^^' the management of hedges in your June and July issues I 

 quite agree ; but there are some points on which we must 

 differ. I quite agree with him generally in the way he advised the 

 soil should be prepared previous to the planting of tlie hedge therein. 

 If the hedge is liable to be assailed by cattle from both sides, then 

 both sides should be suitably fenced off previous to planting ; and in 

 doing so about 3 ft. may be allowed as hedge space in the centre, 

 and the fences may stand about 4 ft. back from this on each side, or 

 in all there may be about 11 ft. between the protecting fences ; and 

 where land is very valuable, and shelter not needed, it should be 

 worth remembering that, when compared with ordinary wire fencing, 

 this means a loss to a farmer of about an acre in every 1,300 yards 

 of hedges, for the time being. 



Mr. Slater is quite right in approving of planting one line or row 

 of plants in a hedge only, and not two. 



Weeds of all kinds should certainly be kept in check by repeated 

 cutting ; and, if not, the hedge is injured, if not ruined, just in 

 proportion to the neglect of this. 



Everyone who plants a hedge would like it to become its best in 

 the least possible time ; now, if I understand Mr. Slater aright, he 

 proposes to accomplish this desirable end by annually allowing its 

 height not to increase above six inches, or its breadth more 

 than three inches. By this means he retards root-growth, and conse- 

 quently the accumulation of vital force, and therefore prevents the 

 hedge gaining that strength it might have, in a given time, if other- 

 wise treated. The better way to do would be to switch back with a 

 hedge-bill the more vigorous-growing plants, annually, both at the 



