On Live Fences. 105 



four from its breadth also and the depth of the sod ; 

 which depth cannot be too great. By a similar spade, 

 a similar sod is taken from the spot, where the cedar is 

 to be planted ; the sod with the cedar growing in it, is 

 deposited in its places and the earth of the removed sod 

 is used to fill up chinks, or is crumbled about the young 

 plant as a dressing. The success depends upon not 

 breaking the sod, and the smallness of the cedar. Very 

 few will die, if any care be taken. The gaps made by 

 the few which do die, by violence or by accident, are 

 speedily repaired by replanting annuall)^ 



The winter months and March, are the best seasons 

 for planting. Moisture, sufficient to prevent the ground 

 from crumbling, is necessaiy. A congelation so slight 

 as to be penetrated by the spade, places the earth in the 

 best state for the operation ; but this is seldom attain- 

 able. 



The advantages of the cedar over shrubs, are 1st, its 

 longevity. 2dly, the rapidity with which it is planted, 

 and the certainty with which it takes root. 3dly, the 

 absence of thorns and its pliancy, so that it can be bent 

 wattled and worked into any form, and trained to fill up 

 apertures, with ease and dispatch. 4thly, its being ab- 

 solutely refused by most animals as food, and never in- 

 jured by browsing. 5thly, the smallness of its annual 

 shoots, rendering it far more subservient to the shears, 

 than the thorn. 6tWy, the size and rigidity bestowed 

 by age on its branches, united with a disposition to grov/ 

 extremely thick, under the pruning regimen. And 

 7thly, its being an evergreen, presenting an uniform 

 state of perviousness ; which is not the case with any 

 deciduous plant. 



Bb 



