On Hedging. . 19 
of the season, as it is only when the shoots are young 
and tender that cattle will crop them. 
PREPARATION OF THE HEDGE COURSE. 
When the soil is tolerably good and clear of impe- 
diments, the track of the hedge will require no other 
preparation than what is commonly bestowed-on the 
contiguous field for a crop of wheat or rye. Deep 
ploughing, however, will always be found beneficial 
and where the trench plough is known, the use of it in 
preparing the course will be found greatly to conduce’ 
towards the strong and rapid growth of the hedges af- 
terwards. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the 
spade is superior to the plough, in cultivating the’ soil, 
in all cases where the different amount of expenses are. 
not taken into the account; but in common practice, | 
and onan extensive scale, the plough will be perfectly 
sufficient, assisted by a neat harrow, to do the whole ~ 
work of previous preparation, considering that methods 
of saving time,expense and labour are always, when 
practicable, matters of high estimate to the American 
husbandman. | : 
Where the soil in which a hedge is intended to be 
planted is worn out by crops, or is naturally thin, good 
culture and manure also sometimes ought to be employ- 
ed to overcome its sterility; when this is the condition 
of the ground, these beneficial preparatives ought to be 
applied several months at least before the planting of 
the hedge, and if done one whole year before hand so 
much the better. If the soil is not brought into a con- 
dition of being capable of producing strong weeds of 
4 
