THE RAISING AND MANAGEMENT OF THORN HEDGES. 169 



practised in Yorkshire. The advantage obtained by this system 

 is that a good fence is got sooner. The greatest objection is 

 expense, for the cost of layering runs from 2S. 6d. to 3s. 6d. or 

 4s. per chain, according to the age and nature of the hedge ; then 

 there are the stakes to hold the layers fast till they set, — 2s. a 

 chain ; to which add topping or laths to nail along the top ot 

 stakes to hold them fast, — also 2s. a chain ; then there is con- 

 siderable expense in cleaning up afterwards, especially if the 

 hedge has been very rough and old. 



A recently layered hedge should be protected from stock for 

 two or three years, till it gets a good start, either with barbed wire, 

 which is cheapest, or with rails, or by a dead fence, which can 

 be got out of the waste material from the old fence. The only 

 objection to a dead fence is that it encourages weeds and grass 

 to grow up and smother the layered hedge, thereby preventing 

 young shoots from growing. 



It is of great importance that there should be no or very few 

 trees in a hedge row, as they nearly always kill it either with the 

 drip of their branches or by their roots sucking all the nourish- 

 ment out of the ground. Of course the landscape would look 

 very bleak without trees, but where trees do occur they should 

 be well lopped, so as to allow plenty of light to get to the hedge. 



Agricultural Fences. — Nothing beats a hedge for agricultural 

 land. If it is properly grown and managed it is almost im- 

 penetrable to stock, and it also provides good shelter in cold 

 winds and snow storms. Post and rail fences are good enough 

 in their way, as a fence of these can be erected in a short time, 

 but it is easily damaged by stock, and such fences are in constant 

 need of repairs, and besides they provide no shelter. 



In some parts of the country, principally on the hills, where 

 material for their construction is easy to get, dry stone walls are 

 mostly used as fences. Stone makes a good substantial fence, 

 lasting a life-time, but the expense of construction is a very 

 heavy item, as besides building there is a heavy bill for 

 carting. These fences provide excellent shelter for stock. In 

 some parts stone and lime are used and form a very lasting and 

 substantial fence, but also a very expensive one. 



Another kind of fence used extensively on the hills is wire 

 fencing, which lasts a long time if proper material is used in 

 its construction. This makes a capital fence for sheep but 

 is greatly objected to by farmers for horses, as they are in the 



VOL. XXVI. PART II. M 



