186 SYLVA BOOK i 



but it being apt to the browsing of cattle, when the 

 young shoots appeared, it does better in copp'ces) 

 the rest not lasting, should yet be driven well in at 

 every yard of interval both before, and after they are 

 bound, till they have taken the hard earth, and are 

 very fast; and even your plash'd-hedges, need some 

 small thorns to be laid over, to protect the spring 

 from cattle and sheep, 'till they are somewhat forti- 

 fied; and the doubler the winding is lodg'd, the 

 better; which should be beaten, and forced down 

 together with the stakes, as equally as may be. Note, 

 that in sloping your windings, if it be too low done 

 (as very usually) it frequently mortifies the tops, 

 therefore it ought to be so bent, as it may not 

 impede the mounting of the sap : If the plash be 

 of a great, and extraordinary age, wind it at the 

 neather boughs all together, and cutting the sets as 

 directed, permit it rather to hang downwards a 

 little, than rise too forwards ; and then twist the 

 branches into the work, leaving a set free, and un- 

 constrain'd at every yard space, besides such as will 

 serve for stakes, abated to about five foot length 

 (which is a competent stature for an hedge) and so 

 let it stand. One shall often find in this work, 

 especially in old neglected hedges, some great trees, 

 or stubs, that commonly make gaps for cattle : Such 

 should be cut so near the earth, as till you can 

 lay them thwart, that the top of one may rest on 

 the root or stub of the other, as far as they extend, 

 stopping the cavities with its boughs and branches ; 

 and thus hedges which seem to consist but only of 

 scrubby-trees and stumps, may be reduced to a tol- 

 erable fence : But in case it be superannuated, and 

 very old, 'tis advisable to stub all up, being quite 



