PLANTING. 55 



protect the thorns from cattle, a ditch with post and rails are adopted. 

 (Fig. 8. ). When rabbits abound in the neighbourhood of a young quick 

 fence, they are often very destructive to the plants. The means of pre- 

 venting these animals from having access to the young thorns is too ex- 

 pensive to be adopted for forest fences*. A row of thickly planted dead 

 hedge on each side of the row of quick, is, perhaps, the best temporary 

 protection ; but the most effectual mode is to keep down the number of 

 the rabbits, or, if possible, to take them away altogether. 



When stones can conveniently be had, the facing of the bank with these, 

 and planting the quick so as to spring through the wall, (jftg. 8. 6,j 

 forms the most secure and lasting fence. The expense of weeding is saved 

 by it ; and, under such circumstances, the plants generally make great 

 progress. 



In the management of the hedges when planted, weeding is most 

 essential, for if coarse grass or rampant weeds are suffered to mingle with 

 the lower branches and foliage of the quick, the injury is very considerable. 

 The top of the hedge should be kept level from the first cutting, until the 

 p- a 8 plants have attained to the desired 



height. The sides of the hedge ought 

 |V a to be kept also of an even surface; 

 by shortening the side branches every 

 year to within an inch more or less 

 of the preceding year's wood, the 

 bottom of the hedge is maintained 

 equally thick and impenetrable with the upper portion. The most gene- 

 rally approved form of a hedge, is that of the hog's mane ; however, if the 

 soil has been properly prepared, the plants selected of the largest size, 

 and the keeping- clear of weeds, and most judicious mode of pruning 

 persevered in, the hedge will flourish in every shape. 



By keeping the top of a hedge level, it is not meant that all the plants 

 should be shortened in the leading shoot of the stem, but only those which 

 overtop their thin neighbours. If this be properly attended to, the evil 

 effects which follow the practice of shortening without exception the lead- 

 ing shoots of every plant of the hedge will be avoided, as well as those 

 which occur when the upright growth of any plant is left uncontrolled 

 until it reach to the desired height. 



Where a hedge has been neglected, is overgrown and irregular, the best 

 mode is to cut it down level with the soil, and then to dig the earth about 

 the stumps, inserting plants of strong quick in the gaps where they occur. 

 It may happen that the fence cannot be dispensed with, for the time the 

 young shoots from the old roots require to renew the fence. In this case, 

 the mode of cutting a fourth part of the stems to the desired height, and 

 another fourth part a few inches from the ground, and warping the 

 remainder with these, is found a useful practice. 



Besides the white thorn or quick, and the furze (Ulex europfBUs), there 

 are many other shrubs which may be planted under certain circumstances 

 with effect as fences. In exposed cold soils, the Huntingdon willow, 

 beech, birch, and alder, may be used with advantage. 



It may be unnecessary to mention, that where larch poles can be had, 

 they afford an excellent material for fencing, particularly when used with 



* For protection to gardens against the depredations of rabbits, or turnip crops exposed 

 iu the fields, &c., a wire netting has been invented, which completely answers the purpose. 

 The expense for these purposes is so moderate, as to render the adoption of the wire netting 

 no matter of difficulty. We witnessed the effects of the practice at Cantlev Hall, the seat 

 f John W. Childers, Esq. 



