THE YOUNO FARMER'S MANUAL. 207 



they can do advantageously. Let all such leisure hours be occu 

 pied with a hoe at the hedge. Let the farmer keep an eye on 

 the hedge and see that it is not neglected in autumn, and that a 

 lot of weeds do not go to seed, so as to keep one weeding for 

 seven years. Remember, that 



276. " One year's seeding makes seven years' weeding." 

 Never think of making an impenetrable hedge in less than a 

 decade of years, when only a little strip two feet wide on each 

 side of the hedge is scratched over a little once or twice a year. 

 If land is cheap, and it is no object to cultivate a crop by the 

 side of a hedge, let the work of cultivating be performed with 

 plow, harrow and cultivator, without a crop. Another thing 

 which is too commonly neglected is, 



PROTECTING HEDGES FROM CATTLE, 



277. While they are too small to protect themselves. Young 

 steers, especially, and bulls, delight to plunge into a hedge row to 

 hook, and horses and sheep like to nip off the tender shoots ; 

 and, if it is not protected by a good fence, it is all folly to attempt 

 to grow a hedge. Nor should we delay to fence a hedge row 

 for the first year or two ; for cattle are very liable at any time to 

 get on forbidden ground, when they would quickly make irre 

 parable breaches in it. Should there be no sheep kept on the 

 farm, the expense of protecting a hedge would be trifling. A 

 fence on each side of it, like Fig. 22, even if the posts were not 

 of the most durable timber, would subserve a good purpose until 

 the hedge should be strong enough to turn cattle without any pro 

 tection. It is always advisable to keep cattle away from hedges, 

 until there can be no risk in permitting them to hook into it to 

 their satisfaction. 



REPAIRING HEDGES. 



278. Should a breach be made in a hedge, or should it become 

 so thin and weak in places as not to be strong enough to turn 

 cattle, if the stems are not healthy, it would be best to remove 

 them entirely for a few feet in length, and commence anew with 



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