Cultivation of Moorland. 365 



in after years an endless source of annoyance, as the least dis- 

 turbance of the " sod facing " gives rise to further trespass, and 

 consequent dilapidation. 



This fence has the same heading and planting as the last- 

 named one, and in formation is the same as to size, the sods being 

 substituted at the side facings for stone, as shown in the preced- 

 ing sketch. The misfortune of this fence is, that the native 

 sods do not grow together. This arises from the poorness of 

 the soil and the open texture of tlie natural earth under its thick 

 covering of indigenous j^lants. 



Wlien new fences of this order are erected upon old improved 

 lands, the sods are of much better quality as to solidity and 

 goodness, and thus unite by future gnnvth, and form a tolerable 

 fence. Their cost stands thus : — 



s. d. 



Making the entire bank 2 



Eeech-plants and planting 9 



Materials, hedging, &c., and carriage . . 14^ 

 22 withy pitches 9 



4 lOi 



As time goes on, these banks require to be faced with stone to 

 the height of 4 feet ; this, with certain repairs consequent upon 

 the former, amounts to about 4^. Qxl. to 5.s-. per perch, including 

 the carriage. 



By sinking the ditch at the foot of a l:)ank, in a triangular iovn^, 

 say 2 feet deep, all cattle, &c., are prevented reaching the grow- 

 \n\z. plants, or otlierwise injuring the bank by their feet. This is 

 indeed a valuable preventive. 



Upon moorlands that have those unfortunate clays for their 

 surlace and subsoil, it is not uncommon to see a double sod 

 fence thrown up, with deep ditches on either side, and three 

 rows of quick planted in the centre, one on each side and one in 

 the middle. This fence has many objections, but none greater 

 tlian the enormous extent of land it occupies. 



The merit of lofty bank fences (esjiecially when they have 

 their growing wood upon the toj)) is in the immediate shelter 

 they afford in an open, bleak, and elevated district ; and are thus 

 very j)roj)erly termed and used as the lence of the lountry on open 

 moorhmds. 



In the enclosure of moderately elevated moorlands manv have 

 liad recoiMse to what are termed " hedges upon the flat."' 'IMiese 

 liave a ditch s\mk uj)()n each side, and the soil extracted is tlnown 

 into the centre, wiiercby a raised platform is made, and the 

 (piick-plaiits laid in as the works proceed, or at its earliest com- 

 pletion, taking (are that the roots are deposited in the best soil ; 

 when they arc thus adwinced, an additional " back fence " by a 



VOL. XVI [. '1 C 



