FENCING. 273 



wise ; keeping the spade in one position, 

 so as to form turfs of about a foot square, 

 and to the depth of the upper soil, if under 

 six inches. Begin at one end, and turn 

 these sods, at one cast of the spade, so as they 

 may be inverted, with their edges at the 

 distance of about nine inches from the first 

 rut, or (now) face of the ditch ; keeping 

 them exactly in line, and joined close to 

 each other : thus forming the scarcement 

 about nine or ten inches in breadth, which 

 may be reckoned a good medium. In light 

 sandy or gravelly lands, however, the scarce- 

 ment should not be less than a foot ; as other- 

 wise, the brink crumbles down, and leaves 

 the roots too much exposed. 



Now, lift another row of sods from the sur- 

 face of the ditch, and throw them at random 

 beyond, but not away from, the former. This 

 is done to afford the more loose surface-mould 

 wherein to bed the plants ; and where there 

 is no turf or sod, is unnecessary. Go along 

 the first row of sods ; smooth all inequalities ; 

 and lay the surface in a gently sloping man-* 

 ner, so as that the roots of the plants may dip 

 a little, and their tops may -incline upwards, 



