MARCH] THE NURSERY. 271 



ditch will make a more formidable fence, in three years, than a ground 

 hedge will in ten. 



Having now given my decided and unequivocal opinion as to which 

 is preferable, for outward fences, I shall proceed to give the best in- 

 structions in my power for the formation of both; the more especially 

 as the ground-hedge is the neatest and most eligible for internal 

 hedges in gardens and pleasure-grounds. 



The hawthorn, of all other kinds, is the most suitable for outward 

 fences ; and here I think it necessary to remark, that the common 

 European white thorn, or Cratsegus oxyacantha of Linnaeus, appears 

 to answer well in America, but is not of so rapid growth as our cock- 

 spur thorn, or Cratsegus crus galli; the former makes a closer and 

 thicker hedge, but not more formidable, nor so immediately as the 

 latter. We have many varieties of native hawthorns, as described 

 on page 164, &c., either of which will answer very well, and conve- 

 nience must be considered in respect to choice ; but when choice can 

 be made, a preference should be given to the cockspur thorn, or 

 rather to that kind which is observed to grow most luxuriantly in the 

 neighborhood in which it is intended to be planted. 



THE HEDGE AND DITCH. 



The months of October, November, and December will be the 

 most eligible periods in the southern States for making this kind of 

 fence, particularly as their frosts can do no injury to the ditch, and 

 the roots will have an early establishment, and consequently be the 

 better prepared to encounter the summer heats. In the middle and 

 eastern States, I would prefer doing this business in March, or early 

 in April ; as the ditch in that case would have one year's advantage 

 of the frost, which, in some kinds of soil, would have a considerable 

 effect, particularly in the first year, by swelling the earth in the face 

 of the ditch, causing it to moulder down, and thereby expose the 

 roots of the quicks ; but this can be obviated by leaving a scarce- 

 ment in the front, as hereafter directed. 



Strong year old quicks will answer very well for laying in the face 

 of a ditch, but such as have had the advantage of two years' growth 

 in nursery rows, after being transplanted when one year old from the 

 seed-bed, will sooner form a good fence, or two year old plants from 

 the seed-bed will answer a very good purpose. Be particular, in the 

 taking of them up, not to injure their roots but as little as possible, 

 and to sort them into three different lots, the smallest, larger, and 

 largest, and also to plant each lot together ; for the mixing of the 

 small with the large is very injudicious, as the former in a little time 

 would be smothered and overgrown by the latter, and vacancies con- 

 sequently formed in the hedge. 



Previous to planting, prune off the extremities of any long strag- 

 gling and wounded roots, and also cut off the heads of the plants 

 about seven inches above the earth-mark where they stood in the 

 ground, and likewise any side branches that remain; let no conside- 

 ration prevent your doing this, for on it depends much of your suc- 

 cess. 



