4 
On Hedging. 25 
the frost, or the alternate freezing and thawing of the soil _ 
in the winter months, a circumstance very common in 
the middle states of the union. It is not safe, however, 
to place leaves or litter for this purpose along the sides 
of young hedges, as these afford shelter for ground 
squirrels and mice, which are apt to gnaw the tender 
roots of the hawthorn, either for food or pass-time. _ 
After a hedge is planted, if the tops appear consider- 
ably unequal, it will be proper to give it a slight trim- 
ming with the shears, clipping off just so much as to 
render it evenly. Or if the plants appear disproportion- 
ately tall and slender, they may then be shortened equal- 
ly, so far as may appear to be necessary to prevent their 
being violently agitated by the winds, or bent down- 
ward by the weight of the snow in winter. 
SUPPLY OF VACANCIES. 
This is a most important part of the art; for if the 
generality of a hedge be ever so strong, yet if there 
are gaps left here and there, it would be equally as bad 
as if a post and rail fence should be deficient in several 
of the pannels. These gaps or vacancies in hedging 
ean never be so effectually remedied, as when the hedge 
is young. Such hedges as are planted immediately af- 
ter the fall of the leaf,-are to be carefully examined at 
the return of spring, or the first open weather that may 
ensue after severe frosts, to see that none of the plants 
have been heaved up thereby, and if so, they are to be 
fastened down by pressing round about them with the 
foot, and if any of them have accidently been destroy- 
‘ed or cut off near the wey they are to be replaced 
; * 
