5obn 



if it be too low done, as very usually, it fre- 

 quently mortifies the tops ; therefore it ought 

 to be so bent as it may not impede the mount- 

 ing of the sap. If the plash be of a great and 

 extraordinary age, wind it at the nether boughs 

 altogether, and cutting the sets as directed, 

 permit it rather to hang downwards a little 

 than rise too forwards ; and then twist the 

 branches into the work, leaving a set free and 

 unconstrained at every yard space, besides such 

 as will serve for stakes, abated to about five feet 

 in length (which is a competent stature for a 

 hedge), and so let it stand. One shall often 

 find in this work, especially in old neglected 

 hedges, some great trees or stubs that com- 

 monly make gaps for cattle ; such should be 

 cut so near the earth as till you can lay them 

 thwart, that the top of one may rest on the root 

 or stub of the other, as far as they extend, stop- 

 ping the cavities with its boughs and branches ; 

 and thus hedges, which seem to consist but only 

 of scrubby trees and stumps, may be reduced to 

 a tolerable fence ; but in case it be superannu- 

 ated and very old, it is advisable to stub all up, 

 being quite renewed and well guarded. We 

 have been the longer on these descriptions, 

 because it is of main importance, and that so 

 few husbandmen are so perfectly skilled in it ; 

 but he that would be more fully satisfied, I 



