282 THE PRACTICAL PLANTER. 



the hoe the first year, according to the clean- 

 ness or foulness of the ground. At the end 

 of the season, go over and replace with stout, 

 well-rooted plants, such as have failed, that 

 the whole may rise together regularly. This 

 is a material point ; a hedge, although per- 

 fectly good and fencible in general, with 

 here and there a gap, is, in fact, no fence 

 at all. Cattle soon learn the path, and keep 

 the opening which admits them without 

 trouble. At this time also, scour out the 

 bottom of the ditch, and dress the stuff to 

 the roots of the plants ; which will not only 

 keep the water-course clear, but, from its< 

 richness, being a species of vegetable earth 

 composed of decayed weeds, &c. will add 

 to their vigour. 



Repeat this culture for two, three, or four 

 more years, according to the progress of the 

 hedge, until it become a fence ; keeping 

 clean of weeds, as you would a row in the 

 best kept nursery ; and scouring out the bot- 

 tom of the ditch from time to time, as neces- 

 sity may dictate ; dressing the stuff to the 

 roots of the hedge, all along, as above. 

 . When the hedge has arrived to the state 



