MISCELLANEOUS WORK 191 



If the hedge is to be a mixed one, one row may be of 

 Thorn and the other of Beech, Hornbeam, etc., or they 

 may be mixed by alternate plants. If the hedge is to be 

 single, the trench must be taken out in the centre of the 

 prepared ground. 



A sHght dressing of basic slag is a great help to the 

 plants, or horn shavings may be dug in when trenching. 

 The latter manure is slower in action, but is very good. 



For ornamental hedges it is seldom necessary to plant 

 double hedges. The plants, if large, are planted separately 

 on the prepared ground, at distances varying with the 

 kind of tree and their size. 



Large transplants of Yew, Holly, Laurel, etc., may 

 need 18 inches to 2 feet of space to grow well, while 

 Privet, Box, etc., may do with from 6 to 9 inches. 



Protecting Hedges. 



Young Thorn hedges need protection against stock 

 during the first six or eight years after being formed, and 

 this can be fairly cheaply done by the use of woven 

 fencing, which can be removed for use elsewhere when the 

 hedge is strong enough. 



Sheep particularly should be kept from young hedges, 

 as their greasy wool will often kill off young shoots. 



Against rabbits or hares protection must be given by 

 wire-netting. 



Cleaning. 



From its earliest days a hedge should be kept free from 

 weeds of any kind — viz., grass, ivy, or any self-sown 



