S APPENDIX. 



or nearly fo, between fix and twelve inches are ufually 

 left. 



Upon a great fcale, the ex pence of weeding ditches, 

 for three or four years after they are made, becomes 

 very confiderable ; this expence is in a great meafure 

 faved, by introducing a courfe of ftones from fix to 

 twelve inches high ; but, previous to this, all the vege- 

 table foil of the off-fet, and, alfo, the foil to the thick- 

 nefs of the courfe of ftones, is caft back, to be conve- 

 nient to bed the roots of the thorn quicks in. Another 

 fmall courfe of ftones is generally laid over the quicks, 

 after being fecurcly bedded in good foil. By ufing 

 thefe precautions, and always planting ftrong thorn 

 quicks, never lefs than four years old, having been two 

 years transplanted into nurfery before they are put into 

 the ditches, the expence of weeding becomes next to 

 nothing; and, even if the whole face of the bank fhould 

 moulder away by the weather, the quicks are never in- 

 jured, as the ftones effectually fecure the roots, which, 

 in the common way of ditching, without off-let or 

 ftones, never fail to be materially injured. 



The only objection people in general have to this 

 kind of ditch, is, on account of cattle, particularly 

 fheep, being able to walk along the off-fet; a few 

 ftones, laid on the off-fet, may prevent this, or, for 

 want of ftones, a flight bearding of bru(h-wood of any 

 fort. A better hedge is obtained in two years, by plant- 

 ing four-year-old quicks, than can be in four years, by 



only 



