194 FOEESTRY WORK 



sides are ploughed. The next crop being Oats, Barley, 

 etc., and the succeeding ones roots, Oats, Hay, it is 

 usually three or four years before stock can interfere with 

 the hedge. (Sheep are netted when feeding off roots.) 

 This gives the hedge plenty of time to become stock- 

 proof again. Stripping consists of cutting all branches 

 back to the stem, and shortening the latter to about 

 3 feet. On old hedges it is a good plan to make cuts 

 through the bark of the stems, about 6 inches from the 

 bottom, to encourage the trees to throw out new shoots 

 from the bottom. When these are strong enough, the 

 old stems may be cut away. 



To layer a hedge, all straggling branches are cut off 

 and all dead or weakly shoots taken out. Stout stakes 

 are driven in the line of hedge from 18 inches to 2 feet 

 apart, and the long shoots that have been left are cut 

 about halfway through at the bottom, with an upward 

 cut, bent down and laced or twined between the stakes. 

 Each succeeding layer is twined on the opposite sides of 

 the stakes to the preceding one, and keeps it down in its 

 place. 



A properly plashed hedge should not " spring," but in 

 some districts the tops of the layers are tied down with 

 wire or tarred string, or " banisters " — i.e., Kght rails — 

 are nailed to the top of the stakes to prevent the layers 

 springing up. 



Another way to hold them down is to use " binders " 

 — i.e., long Thorn or hazel rods, twined in and out of the 

 stakes, in a similar manner to the layers, but horizontally 

 iastead of slanting. 



