Ch. XLIIL] ON FARM FENCES. 535 



The character of the soil and unflulations of the land always require atten- 

 tion in designing the divisions, and moreover, the })lan of fencing ; but to 

 obtain straight and parallel lines on the sides of every field is a most 

 desirable object, on account of the facility which it aftbrds in ploughing the 

 land, and conducting all arable operations. 



In all late enclosures the arrangement of the fields and fences has been 

 more particularly attended to, as well in laying them out rectangularly as 

 also allowing the accommodation of common lanes for the more ready 

 access to the fields. 



HEDGES. 



The ordinary fencing is by hedge-planthig and ditching ; sometimes 

 on a raised mound without a ditch, and occasionally with a shallow ditch 

 on each side. The following descriptions of the manner of forming these 

 fences will give the clearest idea of how the work should be performed, and 

 may be treated of in this order. 



The hedge, as here designed, is planted on a low mound, having a 



shallow depression of the surface on each side. The mound when finished 

 should be three feet wide, which, vvith one foot on each side, should first of 

 all be double digged, to get rid of couch-grass, docks, and thistle-roots, 

 which may grow on the line of the intended hedge. The loose earth from 

 one foot at each side is thrown upon the centre to form the mound, and to 

 add to the depth of the staple where the plants are to stand. 



The best hedge-plant is undoubtedly the hawthorn, commonly called 

 " quickset." The plants are raised in public nurseries, and after beino- 

 transplanted or bedded in the nursery for one or two years, are of the 

 right size and age for hedging. Such plants may be bought at from 10s. 

 to 15,9. per thousand. 



The land should be properly levelled and got ready before the quicks 

 are ordered ; their roots being kept moist and safe from frost while out of 

 the ground, and, if the weather permit, should be planted as soon as they 

 are received in any of the autumn, winter, or spring months ; but the sooner 

 the better — the middle of October being by far the best season for trans- 

 planting thorns, or indeed any other kind of tree or shrub. 



The planti?ig is performed bv first stretching a line along the middle of 

 the mound, and close to which an opening is made with a spade of suf- 

 ficient depth — say ten inches, or according to the length of the roots. 

 Sometimes these are so long that it is necessary to prune oft" the extreme 



