rHK RAISING AND MANAGEMKNT OF iHORN HEDGES. 167 



country in old hedges, — that is the method of cutting a ditch, 

 making a bank and planting the hedge on the top of the bank. 

 Sometimes the thorns were laid flat on the ground, and the soil 

 from the ditch thrown on their roots. This can be noticed yet 

 in some old hedges where the stems have had to turn to grow 

 upwards, so that all the thorns show a bend. 



As a rule hedges planted on a bank are much attacked by 

 rabbits, the bank being a great attraction for them to burrow in. 

 At the time when hedges were planted with a ditch and bank 

 it was necessary to do this, because the land was wet, not being 

 drained then as it is now, when nearly every estate is thoroughly 

 drained where possible. There is thus no further need of cutting 

 a ditch alongside a hedge. The present system of planting on 

 the level has several advantages, particularly on valuable arable 

 land where a ditch would take up 4 or 5 feet of land which can 

 now be ploughed close up to the hedge. Further, when a ditch 

 runs alongside an arable field it, as a rule, grows many weeds 

 which scatter their seeds across the field and cause a lot of extra 

 work. 



In planting a hedge it is sometimes the custom to mix it with 

 other plants, such as beech, hornbeam and common barberry. 

 Beech makes a splendid mixture, forming when mixed with 

 thorns, say about one beech to six thorns, a compact, strong 

 hedge. Beech also retains its leaves all winter, providing good 

 shelter for stock. Hornbeam has somewhat similar properties 

 to the beech. Barberry is rather apt to grow straight, bare 

 stems, all the growth going to the top and the plants making no 

 side branches ; it is therefore not very suitable. 



Managetnent of Yoiuig Hedges. — For the first five or six years 

 young hedges require much attention. Most probably they will 

 require weeding twice a year, when they must be dug over with 

 the spade or grape, all weeds and rubbish being pulled up from 

 amongst the plants and the soil drawn close up to the stems 

 afterwards. In about three years after planting, if the hedge 

 has made good progress, it is a good plan to prune the sides, 

 cutting off any long top-shoots, and thus making the top level. 

 This makes the hedge thicken as it grows up. When a hedge 

 is first planted, it is a good plan to scatter well-rotted dung over 

 the roots to protect them from drought and to retain moisture. 

 This can be dug in in the following autumn. 



Older hedges should be trimmed early in the year, say 



