Jobn J&velvn 293 



we affirmed to require the greatest dexterity, is 

 the artificial plashing of our hedge, when it is 

 arrived at a six or seven years' head ; though 

 some stay till the tenth, or longer. In Febru- 

 ary, therefore, or October, with a very sharp 

 handbill cut away all superfluous sprays and 

 stragglers, which may hinder your progress and 

 are useless. Then searching out the principal 

 stems, with a keen and light hatchet cut them 

 slantwise, close to the ground, hardly three 

 quarters through, or rather so far only as till 

 you can make them comply handsomely, which 

 is your best direction, lest you rift the stem, and 

 so lay it from your sloping as you go, folding in 

 the lesser branches which spring from them ; 

 and ever within five or six feet distance, where 

 you find an upright set (cutting off only the 

 top to the height of your intended hedge), let it 

 stand as a stake to fortify your work, and to re- 

 ceive the twinings of those branches about it. 

 lastly, at the top (which should be about five 

 feet above ground), take the longest, most slen- 

 der, and flexible twigs which you reserved, and 

 (being cut as the former, where need requires) 

 bind in the extremities of all the rest ; and thus 

 your work is finished. This being done very 

 close and thick, makes an impregnable hedge 

 in a few years ; for it may be repeated as you 

 see occasion ; and what you so cut away will 



