536 



BRITISH HUSBANDRY. 



[Ch. XLIII. 



point; but lliis need not be thrown away, because, if put in between the 

 plants, it will also grow and put forth shoots to thicken the bottom. 



The plants may be put ia at about five inches from each other; thus 

 requiring about forty plants on each lineal rod, carefully covered in with 

 the loose soil drawn out bv the spade, and afterwards trodden firmly down 

 with the foot, leaving the middle, where the plants stand, a little hollow 

 to catch rain, and retain moisture about the roots. 



Another plan of formins^ a bank and j)lanting a hedge is represented 

 in the annexed cut. Hedges are generally accompanied with a ditch on 

 one or both sides, and this for several reasons. Ditches act as receivers 

 and as ducts for carrying off water, whether issuing from main or land 

 springs, or for that which falls from the clouds. The soil excavated 

 from the ditch forms an elevated ridge to carry the hedge; by which the 

 latter is raised and sooner becomes a fence: the first spit serves to cover 

 the roots of the j>lants, and the remainder, out of the bottom, is thrown 

 behind to form the crest of the bank. The thorns are placed on a shelf in 

 their natural position, where they have the full benefit of rain, air, and light. 

 The ditch is a guard on one side, and tlie raised bank behind yields pro- 

 tection Oil the other; the ditch also balks the trespasser, and thereby 

 guards the hedge, even supposing it to be useless as a drain. On every 

 wet or boggy ground, hedges are, therefore, frequently planted, with a 

 ditch on each side. 



We sometimes observe the old method practised of planting quick-wood 

 upon a bank ; but it is self-evident that this is injudicious, as the roots are 

 thereby deprived of all nutriment but what can be derived from a dry bank, 

 and such fences are never seen in a flourishing state. The better mode 

 of raising hedges in almost every soil and situation is — wherever an 

 option can be afforded in setting out a new inclosure — to place the " head- 

 lands," i. c. the top of the fields, to the north, and the bottom to the 

 south : thus the full sun is afforded to the face of the land, and these top 

 and bottom lines may be curved in any manner that shall best promote the 

 drainage of the soil. 



The line of the fences having been well determined upon, such parts of 

 the land as may have previously been in an arable state ought to be 

 ploughed to the greatest possible depth, thoroughly fallowed, and well 

 manured for the breadth of four yards. In the month of October, it 

 has been before observed, the season for planting will commence, and 

 this work may be carried forward during the winter, or until the middle 

 of March. Then mark out the intended line of the ditch, nine inches apart 

 from the line where the quick-wood is intended to shoot up. Take a spit 



