CHAP, xx SYLVA 189 



4 vacuity between the sets and the turfs, as high as 

 4 their tops, always leaving the middle where the sets 



* are planted, hollow, and somewhat lower than the 

 4 sides of the banks, by 8 or i o inches, that the rain 

 4 may descend to their roots, which is of great ad- 

 1 vantage to their growth, and far better than by the 

 4 old way ; where the banks too much sloping, the 

 4 roots of the sets are seldom wetted in an ordinary 

 4 season, the Summer following ; but which if it 

 4 prove dry, many of the sets perish, especially the 

 4 late planted : Whereas those which I planted in the 

 4 latter end of April, tho' the Summer hapned to be 



* somewhat dry, generally scap'd, very few of them 



* miscarrying. Now the planting thus advanc'd, the 

 4 next care is fencing ; by setting an hedge of about 

 ' 20 inches high upon the top of the bank, on each 

 ' side thereof, leaning a little outward from the sets, 

 1 which will protect them as well (if not better) than 

 4 a hedge of 3 foot, or four inches more, standing 

 4 upon the surface of the ground, which being rais'd 

 4 with the turfs and sods about 20 inches, and the 

 ' hedge about 20 inches more, will make 3 foot 4 

 4 inches ; so as no cattle can approach the dead-hedge 

 4 to prejudice it, unless they set their feet in the 

 4 ditch it self ; which will be at least a foot deep, and 

 4 from the bottom of the fosse to the top of the hedge, 

 4 about 4 foot and J, which they can hardly reach 

 4 over to crop the quick, as they might in the old 



* way ; and besides, such an hedge will endure a year 

 4 longer. I have at this present, an hedge which has 

 4 stood these 5 years ; and tho' 9 or i o foot be suffi- 

 4 cient for both ditches and bank, yet where the 

 4 ground is but indifferent, 'tis better husbandry to 

 4 take 1 2 foot, which will allow of a bank at least 



