of Buckthorns for Hedges or Live Fences. 11 



ground, the hedge may be planted, and if the trench was dug out 

 in the autumn }3revious, not less than three feet in width, and 

 about fifteen or eighteen inches in depth, leaving the earth in a 

 ridge on each side of the trench, for the purpose of freezing and 

 thawing, it would add much to the quality of the soil at the time 

 of planting. In order to do this woi'k in the most tliorough 

 manner, the earth on only one side of the trench should be bro- 

 ken up pretty fine, with the spade, before putting it into the trench; 

 when this is done and nicely levelled, some good old manure, 

 that has more the appearance of rich earth than any thing else, 

 should be placed on the soil that is already in the trench. The 

 quantity that maybe used must be left at the option of the opera- 

 tor, as he will be the most likely to judge of the good or bad 

 qualities of the original soil: however, I should be in favor of 

 giving the earth in the trench a bountiful dressing with the manure, 

 more especially if such as I have spoken of can be obtained; if 

 not, the nearer the proximity to it, the better. 



I shall now suppose that one half of the earth, that was dug out 

 in the autumn, is placed in the trench, with the manure, more or 

 less, on the top of it; the earth that is still on the opposite side 

 should now be put on the manure ; this done, the workman 

 should begin at one end of the trench, and dig or trench it all 

 over, being mindful to incorporate the soil and manure well to- 

 gether. As soon as this is finished, the hedge may be planted 

 in the following manner, viz. first, stretch a line across the centre 

 of the trench as tight as possible; then with a good spade open 

 the trench from the line, as deep as you will immediately per- 

 ceive is necessary, from examining the roots of the plants; or a 

 good criterion to go by would be, to set them as deep as they 

 were originally planted, which may be easily known by a little 

 observation. By keeping the line tight, and planting as close to 

 or as near as possible, so as not to touch it, and observing to set 

 the plants about nine inches apart in the row, or plant from plant, 

 they will stand exactly where they ought to be; that is, as near 

 as may be in the centre of the ground prepared for this purpose. 

 The earth, having been all levelled carefully round the plants, the 

 work is finished. I had nearly forgot to say, that the roots of 

 the plants should have been pruned a little before ])lanting, but 

 not a particle of the top should be touched with a knife this year. 

 In the spring of the year, after planting, the whole of the hedge 

 must be cut down to within three or four inches of the ground: 

 if this is not done, it is a hundred to one that the hedge will ever 

 answer the purpose it was ])lanted for, namely, that of having it 

 thick and impenetrable at the bottom. There is not the least to 

 be feared about the top. 



In the spring of the year, after cutting the hedge down, or the 

 third year from planting, I would advise only a partial cutting, 



