26 On Hedging. 
a 
by new plants, as soon as the state of the soil and the 
weather will permit. 
Every person who attempts to form a live fence, 
ought to keep these supplies in early and careful re- 
membrance. Some fine large plants ought always to be 
retained in the nursery, to supply such accidental fai- 
lures as may happen in the infancy of hedges. Four or 
five plants for every hundred in a hedge, will generally” 
be found enough for this use. As soon as the fall of 
the leaf takes place, all young hedges ought to be in- 
spected, and the supplemental plants being taken up 
with extraordinary care to save their roots as much as 
possible, are to be planted in the vacancies. Where the 
place of one plant only is vacant, an opening is to be 
made for the reception of the new one, with a grubbing 
hoe or narrow spade, and as this opening cannot be 
much extended in the direction of the hedge, it must, - 
therefore, be opened the farther across, so as to take 
in a good proportion of the roots of the new plant with 
ease, the extreme fibres thereof having been pruned a 
little to prevent any occasion for doubling them, a thing 
which is generally inimical to the free growth of any 
plant whatever. The opening is then to be correctly 
filled up on both sides with the best mould at hand, and 
the plant fastened well in its place by the foot of the. 
planter, scattering a little loose earth over the spot af- 
terwards. Early next spring, the hedge ought again to 
be examined, and if any dead plant has been passed 
over unperceived, or if any fresh accident has happen- 
ed, such are to be supplied accordingly. At the end of 
the first and second years, or after the fall of the leaf, 
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