228 Championship Hedging Competition. 



"With a view of improving this state of things, many societies 

 and others have taken up tlie matter, and are doing most 

 excellent work. 



There seems, however, to be a lack of general information 

 on the subject, and, consequently, local customs are followed 

 which are, in many cases, absolutely wrong, both in theory 

 and practice. This is not so mai-ked in pastoral districts, but 

 where mixed farming is pursued the fences are often so badly 

 grown, or so seriously ruined by cutting, that when the land 

 is in pasture they are practically useless. I have, therefore, 

 with the assistance of a few practical men in various parts of 

 the country, drawn out a few suggestions which, I hope, may 

 prove to be of service. 



Planting Fences. 



1. Whitethorn is the most suitable plant for most parts of 

 the country, as it is long lived and of vigorous growth, making 

 a strong fence and providing an excellent shelter for stock. 



2. In former days, before the draining of land became a 

 general practice, hedges were in many parts planted on banks 

 made by the soil dug out to form ditches, but to-day it is a 

 common practice in localities where mixed farming is pursued 

 to plant on the fiat, i.e. on a bed only slightly raised above the 

 level of the land. 



In very wet districts, or on strong clay land, a ditch is an 

 absolute necessity, but in the majority of places a grip about 

 eight inches wide and about the same depth cut on each side 

 of the bed wuU as a rule do all the draining required. The 

 sod thus cut out should be turned against the roots. 



Pipe drains alongside fences are useless, as they so soon 

 become choked with roots. 



3. When a ditch is made, care should be taken not to make 

 the bank on which the fence is to be planted too vertical, nor 

 should the fence be put too near to the ditch side, as in the 

 event of the bank falling away the roots become exposed, or 

 at all events too near the surface to get sufficient nutriment. 



4. The bed should be prepared at least a month before 

 planting, which is best done in November or December, but 

 may be continued to the middle of February. It should be at 

 least 4 ft. 6 in. wide, the middle 2 ft., forming the root bed, 

 being trenched to the depth of 2 ft., and the remaining por- 

 tions to the depth of 1 ft. 



Long farmyard manure should be dug into the root bed in 

 order to keep the land suitable for the growth of root fibre, 

 and if the soil is of a poor nature sods or well rotted turf 

 should also be added. 



