THORN HEDGES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 67 



thorn trees, so that they could graze two or three fields together. 

 He is of opinion that it is a mistaken policy to let farmers 

 keep up their own hedges. 



The system in vogue on the estate, in Dumfriesshire, where 

 the writer is at present employed is totally different to those 

 previously described. It is a mixture of good and bad practices. 

 Except in the grounds near the castle, the hedges are not 

 switched annually, but every hedge is cut over or stripped on 

 one side, when the field on that side is ploughed out of " ley," 

 or on both sides when the fields on both sides are ploughed. 

 On most farms this rotation is one of six years, so that each 

 side of a hedge is cut over once in that time. 



This system of leaving the hedges untouched for so many 

 years tends to encourage growth at the top of the hedge, but 

 it prevents the young shoots at the bottom from getting the 

 requisite light and air; and the result is that there is nothing 

 left of the hedge but bare stems with a few branches on top, 

 and sheep can get through it quite easily. To remedy this, 

 the writer has told the workmen employed to cut nicks on both 

 sides of the stumps, at about 4 inches from the ground, in order 

 to encourage them to throw out fresh shoots below that point. 

 By the time that the hedge comes to be cut again, there should 

 be enough young shoots in it to allow it to be layered, which 

 system is to be gradually introduced on the estate. Layering 

 is already being practised on some estates in Dumfriesshire, 

 but not on the same principle as in Wales. Tarred twine or 

 wire is used to tie the layers down, and this practice is to be 

 deprecated, especially when wire is used, as when the hedge is 

 being cut over afterwards, the hedge-bill is always coming into 

 contact with the wire, to the detriment of its edge; and this 

 often makes the hedgers afraid to cut in so close as they should 

 do. It is impossible to make a good job of layering the great 

 majority of the hedges on this estate, in their present condition ; 

 but in time, if the stumps are nicked as described, they may 

 possibly become fit for the purpose. 



Another method that has been tried on this estate, and on 

 several others in this county, is to cut the old stumps at the 

 bottom, as in layering, with the exception that the stumps are 

 not bent over in line with the hedge but at right angles to it, 

 so as to allow light and air to reach the young shoots. The 

 old stumps are wattled and staked, and make an efficient 



