CHAP, xx SYLVA 185 



stem) and so lay it from your sloping as you go, 

 folding in the lesser branches which spring from 

 them; and ever within a five or six foot distance, 

 where you find an upright set (cutting off only the 

 top to the height of your intended hedge) let it stand 

 as a stake, to fortifie your work, and to receive the 

 twinings of those branches about it. Lastly, at the 

 top (which would be about five foot above ground) 

 take the longest, most slender, and flexible twigs 

 which you reserved (and being cut as the former, 

 where need requires) bind-in the extremities of all 

 the rest, and thus your work is finished: This being 

 done very close and thick, makes an impregnable 

 hedge, in few years; for it may be repeated as you see 

 occasion ; and what you so cut-away, will help to 

 make your dry-hedges for your young plantations, or 

 be profitable for the oven, and make good bavin. 

 Namely, the extravagant side branches springing the 

 more upright, 'till the newly wounded are healed. 

 There are some yet who would have no stakes cut 

 from the trees, save here and there one; so as to leave 

 half the head naked, and the other standing; since 

 the over-hanging bows will kill what is under them, 

 and ruin the tree ; so pernicious is this half-toping : 

 But let this be a total amputation for a new and lusty 

 spring: There is nothing more prejudicial to subnas- 

 cent young trees, than when newly trim'd and prun'd, 

 to have their (as yet raw) wounds poyson'd with con- 

 tinual dripping ; as is well observed by Mr. Nourse : 

 But this is meant of repairing decay'd hedges. For 

 stakes in this work, oak is to be preferr'd, tho' some 

 will use elder, but it is not good; or the blackthorn, 

 crab-tree, in moorish ground withy, ash, maple, 

 hasel, not lasting, (which some make hedges of ; 



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