22 On Hedges. 



nious contrivances will, no doubt be invented hereaf- 

 ter. Such ideas as have come across my imagination 

 to favour this end, shall now be freely communicated, 

 leaving others to add thereto at their leisure." 



Method of rendering a young Hedge impervious to black 



Cattle, 



" Our cattle being accustomed to go at large, and 

 used to pushing their way through brakes and thickets, 

 we can only expect to debar them by . live fences, 

 through sheer strength of the plants which compose the 

 hedge, and if they possibly can divide it with the 

 help of their horns, some of them will undoubtedly, at 

 times try to force themselves through, without much 

 regarding the spines of the common haw-thorn, which 

 would do little more to a strong steer than to tickle his 

 tough hide, but in order to check his progress, and 

 keep him on the outside, or keep him in if his owner 

 should choose to have him there confined, it will not be 

 difficult nor expensive to assist the young hedge in the 

 following manner.'* 



"When a hedge is four years old, let the top of it be 

 trimmed at the proper season, to about three feet, or 

 three feet and a half from the ground, a number of 

 neat rails, or seasoned poles, sufficient to run the whole 

 length of the hedge being provided, these are to be 

 laid one after the other, singly along the top, exactly 

 in the middle thereof, their ends being lapped past 

 each other, and tied together with a piece of hickory 

 bark, or some such cheap and ready ligature, tlie stubbs 

 of the shoots will easily support them there until the 

 new growth secure them in their place. The hedge- 



