272 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
3. FENCING. 
It is absolutely necessary, before commencing to plant any piece 
of ground, to have it thoroughly fenced against sheep and cattle. 
Many different methods of fencing are in use at the present time, 
each one possessing peculiar advantages, according to the cireum- 
stances in which it may happen to be required. 
Where shelter is of importance, nothing answers so well as 
thorn hedges or stone dykes. In good land the thorn hedge makes 
a very permanent and ornamental fence. If, however, the svil is 
of a light character, or the situation very exposed, it will be 
necessary to introduce a mixture of beech, one beech to two thorns 
being the best proportion. The beech thrives in a much lighter soil 
than the thorn, and also retains its leaves during the winter. In 
this way, by the shelter and nursing affurded by the beech, the 
thorn can be successfully cultivated where otherwise it would not 
grow freely. The bed for the hedgerow should be thoroughly 
treuched, at least 18 inches deep, and all weeds and _ large 
stones carefully removed. If the subsoil be of a stiff or retentive 
nature, it should be thoroughly loosened with the pick, but in 
general it is not advisable to bring much of it to the surface, unless 
the ground is of a peaty nature, in which case it will supply the 
necessary mineral matter so deficient in such soils. The quality 
of the soil should be equalised as much as possible, that of an 
inferior nature being removed, and richer put in its place. In this 
way a more equal growth is at once secured and maintamed. <A 
temporary fence must be erected to protect the hedge until it is 
able to act as a fence itself. It should be neatly trimmed at least 
once a year, and all encroaching branches from the neighbouring 
trees kept in check. 
Stone dykes ave probably the best fences in use for enclosing 
plantations, and if stones are plentiful within a reasonable distance, 
are ultimately the cheapest. They possess the great advantage 
over hedges of at once affording considerable shelter to the young 
trees. 
The dry-stone dyke (as the term implies) is built without mortar, 
with the exception of the cope or top stones, which should be all 
well bedded and pointed with lime. By attending to this matter, 
the fence is much less apt to be broken down. Dykes are built 
vf various heights, but 4 feet, including cope, is usually sufficient 
