62 TRAXSACTIOXS OF ROVAL SCOll'ISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



another year in the seed-bed. An alternative plan to this is to 

 leave the seedlings untouched until the end of the third year, when 

 all the plants can be lifted, the older ones being lined out 

 separately from the younger ones. In lining out, the plants 

 should be placed at least 4 inches apart in the lines (the reason 

 for this will become apparent later). The lines, too, should not 

 be too close — 12 inches is about the minimum. There is no 

 need to detail the work to be done in tending them, as they, 

 with other plants in a nursery, should always be kept free from 

 weeds. 



After standing for one year in the lines, the plants, if they 

 are to be used for hedging purposes, should be cut down to 

 within 6 inches of the ground. This encourages them to throw 

 out new leaders, three or more generally, and they grow up 

 more bushy and better suited for the purpose of hedging. 

 They should then be left for at least another year in the lines ; 

 but to leave them for two years is better, as by that time they 

 will have become much stouter and stronger, and will need a 

 protecting fence for a shorter period when planted in the hedge. 

 It may be said that the larger the plants the longer time they 

 take to establish themselves in a new position, but the writer 

 thinks that if they are planted with due care, there will be a 

 very small percentage of deaths amongst them. Many persons 

 do not cut their plants over till they are put out in the 

 hedge ; not only is double work thus thrown on the plants by 

 their having both to secure roothold and to throw out shoots, 

 but a protective fence is necessary for a longer period with 

 this method than with the one previously described. It 

 is in order to allow each plant sufficient room to grow 

 bushy that the seedlings must be placed at wide intervals 

 in the lines. 



Method of making the Hedge. — There are many forms of 

 hedges : For instance, a bank and either one or two open 

 ditches, with the hedge on the bank ; or a bank with the hedge 

 at its foot, between it and the ditch. 



The writer not only considers the bank and ditch to be 

 unnecessary, but looks upon them rather as hindrances, and 

 for the following reasons. Take the ditch first. If the hedge 

 is for the purpose of shelter, as most farm hedges are, the 

 ditch prevents the animals from getting close to the hedge 

 and therefore they do not get the full benefit of the shelter 



