MARCH] THE NURSERY. 279 



upon the whole, I am of opinion, that the cockspur thorn will answer 

 a better purpose with us for outward, strong, and durable fences than 

 any other. 



PLASHING OP HEDGES. 



This is a very necessary operation, especially when hedges are 

 grown old, or have been so neglected as that gaps are formed in 

 several places; and indeed it is the practice in countries where the 

 greatest attention is paid to them, either to plash, or cut them all 

 clean down to within six inches of the ground every fourteen or 

 fifteen years. To perform this business, you must be provided with 

 a good sharp hedge-bill, handsaw, and a pair of strong leather gloves 

 that will reach up to your elbows, to protect your hands and arms 

 from the spines or thorns ; unless you are provided with these you 

 will have a bloody job of it; but being so fortified it will be but a 

 recreative amusement. 



Then select some of the main upright stems at distances in pro- 

 portion to the general growth of the hedge, to serve for stakes, which 

 are to be cut off with the saw at the height of three or four feet from 

 the roots; other stakes are to be drove down in those vacancies where 

 growing ones do not occur, between which, as well as the former, to 

 plash and lay the general branches; observing that the shorter the 

 shoots which are to be plashed, the closer the stakes should be to one 

 another. The remainder of the hedge you are then to thin, leaving 

 only a sufficiency of the best and longest middle-sized shoots, to lay 

 down and work in between those stakes, cutting the others off in a 

 sloping manner, within five or six inches of the ground, always pre- 

 ferring the saw to the bill, for this purpose, when it can be used con- 

 veniently. Proceed then to lay down the intended shoots, first 

 lopping off the straggling side branches, and cutting or gashing occa- 

 sionally such of the larger growths as are not pliant .enough to yield 

 and keep their intended stations, observing to cut them no deeper 

 than what is absolutely necessary ; lay and weave them in between 

 the stakes almost to a horizontal position, all leaning one way, and 

 their top extremities terminating as much as possible on the ditch 

 side, if any; if not, equally on both. When the hedge is thus 

 plashed, finish the top all the way with some of the longest and most 

 pliant, but stout, of the shoots which were first cut out, previously 

 divesting them of all their side branches, and working two together, 

 lapping around and over one another between each stake, by which 

 the whole plashing will be kept down to its proper birth ; then with 

 the hedge-bill or shears dress and lop off any projecting or straggling 

 branches at the sides to within six inches of the hedge, and the work 

 is finished. 



Never lay your plashes too upright, but near to a level ; by so 

 doing, the sap will the better break out in several places^ for the pro- 

 duction and nourishment of a number of young side shoots, and not 

 run so much to the ends, as it would if laid at a higher elevation. 

 Also avoid crowding your plashes too much, and never lay in more 

 than can conveniently be wove between the stakes, by which the 



