FENCING. 287 



much into disorder at any time, are neither 

 tedious nor expensive in dressing. Well 

 may they be said, at a distance, to seem 

 " living walls." 



SECTION II. 



Plashing and Cutting of Old Hedges. 



1st. PLASHING is an operation more or less 

 understood by every countryman, bred in 

 an inclosed district. The common method 

 is briefly this : 



The stronger stems are selected, at as re- 

 gular distances as possible, and generally at 

 about thirty inches apart. These are called 

 the stakes ; and are commonly headed over 

 at four or five feet above the surface, accord- 

 ing to the general strength of the hedge in 

 question, so as they may all range in line, 

 and at one height. The more pliable branches 

 and small twigs are interwoven, in the bas- 

 ket manner, among the stakes, from top to 

 bottom, as closely as possible. Such as will 



