THORN HEDGES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 63 



provided. The ditch also prevents the farmer from ploughing 

 so close to the hedge as he would do if the ditch were not there. 

 If the soil is wet, a covered drain will take off the surplus water 

 just as well as an open ditch, without the inconveniences of the 

 latter. 



The bank is made with the soil and subsoil taken out in 

 making the ditch. Thorns like good soil, and it is a great 

 mistake to plant them in subsoil, but there is nearly sure to be 

 more poor subsoil than good top soil taken from the ditch. And 

 again, rabbits are more likely to burrow into a bank than into 

 the level ground. Therefore plant the hedge on the natural 

 level of the ground, and, as before said, if the soil is naturally 

 wet, put in a covered drain 2^ feet deep on either side and at 

 15 feet from it. 



Preparing the Ground. 



The ground on the line of fence should be trenched to a width 

 of 2 ft. 6 ins., not in the manner ordinarily understood by the 

 term, viz., by turning the subsoil up and putting it over the 

 top soil, but by removing the turf and top soil, and then merely 

 loosening the subsoil instead of removing it; the turf is then 

 laid on the subsoil, and the soil is dug in on top of it. During 

 this last process the plants may be inserted. The reason for 

 this is, that the young plants have thus the best soil in which 

 to start growth. The turf when rotten will provide a certain 

 amount of nutriment, and the subsoil will be more easily 

 pierced by the descending roots of the plants. If the soil is 

 poor, better soil or well-decayed leaf-mould can be added. 

 Another reason for burying the turf is that the bottom of the 

 hedge will be more easily kept clean in the future. The 

 trenching can be done either at the time of planting, or some 

 time beforehand ; but the latter is best, as the soil will then 

 become sweetened by the time the plants are put in. 



Planting the Hedge. — In forming the hedge, choice may be made 

 of either the single or double row methods. The single row is 

 slightly the cheaper, and is more easily kept clean, but the 

 double row makes the best hedge. AVith the single row, the 

 plants should be put in about 4 inches apart, but with the 

 double row they need be only about 6 inches apart, with 6 inches 

 between the rows. The plants in each line should be midway 

 between those in the next one. Planted thus and where conditions 



