II E D 



K ED 



sets, one to each side of the trench ; and then, 

 in either method, procecd'ng in digging, turning 

 one or two spades of earth in upon the rool3 of 

 the ?ct.s ; and at ti;:ht or ten inches from these, 

 phint one or two sets more in the same order, 

 dioi.'mo- and eariiiing them in as the others j ami 

 tlius proceed, digging along and planting the 

 row ol sots as the work advances, observing in 

 double rows to place the sets opposite to ihe in- 

 tervals in the rows of each oilier. 



In planting with the dibble, the ground 

 should be previously well dug over a spade deep ; 

 then trimming the straggling roots and tops of 

 the plants, wTlh the dibiTle make a hole for each 

 set at t'le above distances, inserting the roots a 

 proper depth, and close the earth well about 

 each sel. as planled. 



In I'orniing Hedges by sowing the seeds at 

 once in the intended places for tbi plants to le- 

 niain, the ground should be properly dug, and 

 then eiiher one drill for a single row, or two for a 

 daublc Hetle,c, should be toinied, a loot asunder, 

 sowing theseed tolerably thick in them, and 

 covering it an inch or two in depth with the 

 earth. The place should be kept very ckar from 

 weeds, both before and after the plants appear; 

 ;ind if the plants are any where too thick, they 

 mav be thinned out at the proper season. 



All such Ilidges as are exposed to cattle, 

 nnist, as soon as planted, he protected either 

 w ith a Slake and bush Hodge, hurdles, or rails, 

 fur four or five years, tdl they grow up. They 

 shouldalso be duly hoed andwceded svhilcyoung, 

 and kept very well cleared from all sorts of 

 weeds. This should be particularly attended to 

 the first two years. 



And where designed lobe trained, they should 

 be aimuallv clipped over in summer, being top- 

 ped S|;arinf:ly while young, only just trimming off 

 the topsof the slraggling and run-away shoots, to 

 preserve a little regularity, that the whole may ad- 

 vance equally, and promote lateral wood to 

 thicken them as they advance; and cut in mo- 

 derately on the s'des. But when arrived at nearly 

 their proper height, as four, five, or six feet, or 

 more, they may be trimmed in close on the 

 sides and top annnallv, to preserve them thick 

 and within their proper bounds, cutting the 

 sidi.s always first as even as jiossible; then the 

 tops, which should also be cut as even as a line ; 

 aKvays cutllnii' in nearly to the old wood of the 

 former yiai'-'' clipping, otherwise the Hedges 

 will get too broad ; the tops being always kept 

 narrower than the bottoms. 



The neatest mode of cutting them at the tops 

 is that of llic ridge t*orm. 



lingular fh'dgcs were formerly in great re- 

 quest in gardens : almost all the dilferent eom- 



parturients and divisions of pleasure-grounds 

 were surrounded wiih them, of various sorts of 

 trees and shrubs, both evergreens and deciduous, 

 which being neatly trained and clipped once or 

 twice annually, sometimes appeared very orna- 

 mental ; but from their surromiding, sluittinsr, 

 out, and obstrueiing the sight of the dilfereut 

 shrubbery borders, clumps, and other parts, as 

 well as their concealing the grounds, and ap- 

 pearing slifi" and formal, they are at present 

 little in use. They are only introduced occa- 

 sionally, either as outward or division fences, or 

 for shelter, shade, &c. in particular compart- 

 ments, and to cover unsightly objects. 



The hedges formed of lofty elm, lime, beech^ 

 and some other sorts of deciduous trees, in 

 pleasi:re-groiinds, lor ornamental training, are 

 also laid aside, as being stiff, awkward, and 

 Irouhlesome in keeping in order. 



'Ihe various fancy devices in hedge-work have 

 likewise given way to a better and more easy 

 rural taste. 



In addition to what has been said on hedees 

 formed of the more common sorts of plants,' it 

 may be observed, that the laurel, though a sin- 

 gularly beautiful evergreen, adorned with a noble 

 large foliage, forming vigorous shoots, never 

 grows so compact, or is so easily kept in form 

 as some other sorts ; besides, its leaves beiiif 

 very large, when clipped with shears, they are 

 unavoidably cut through, and so stubbed and 

 mangled as to have a disagreeable appearance. 

 In these hedges, therefore, instead of perform- 

 ing their annual training with shears, the shoots 

 should be trimmed off" with a knife, to prescr\c 

 the leaves entire. This plant is proper to train 

 Hedge-fashion to hide any disairreeable fence, 

 and will grow either under trees, in the shade, 

 or in an open exposure, and is of quick arowth. 

 Hedges of it should be planted in one row, at 

 from eighteen inches to three feet distance, ac- 

 cording to the size of the plants at the time of 

 planting them out. 



The Laurustinus, from its being not only 

 an evergreen, but a beautiful flowering shrub, 

 forms a delightful Hedge for ornament, as it is 

 covered with flowers in \\ inter and sjiring. It is 

 also well adapted for training hedge-fashion 

 against any shabby fence or naked wall. In 

 either method, it should be planted in one row, 

 at from eighteen inches to three I'eet distance. 



The Plnllyrea and Alatennis, being beautiful 

 evergreens, form verv ornamental Hedoes. Tlic-y 

 greatly resemble each oilier; but the phillyrea 

 bcins; the strongest grower, as well as thickest 

 shooter, is the more proper for a hedge : for 

 variety both mav be used : they are also good 

 evergreen shrubs for training hediT-fashion 



