216 THE PRACTICAL PLANTER. 



to the height of a foot above the plants ; the 

 face being laid in a gentle slope, and smoothed 

 with the back of the spade. Tread the sur- 

 face firm with the foot, and level it smooth ; 

 then 



4thly. PROCEED TO BUILD THE DYKE. 

 Thirty inches in height, twenty inches wide 

 at bottom, and fifteen inches broad at top, is 

 the medium size. But they vary from twenty- 

 four to forty-two inches in height, and of 

 thickness corresponding, according to cir- 

 cumstances ; generally reversing the height 

 according to the width of the ditch, except 

 in some particular cases of inclosing pasture 

 lands, where a bold fence is requisite. 



The wall or dyke stands ten or twelve 

 inches back from the face of the thorn-bed, 

 according to the loose or retentive nature 

 of the mould. And even this is a particular 

 point : if it stand too far out towards the 

 face of the ditch, it is not only in danger of 

 slipping down, but the hedge is cleaned 

 and dressed with difficulty ; and if it stand 

 too far back, on the banking, cattle have 

 the advantage, by reason of the space be- 



