ARCH.] THE NURSERY. 253 



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 Cratxgus Oxyacantha of Linnasus, appears 

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

 cockspur thorn, or Cartcegus 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 des- 

 scribed in page 147, Sec. either of which will answer very well, and 

 convenience 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 luxu- 

 riantly, in the neighbourhood 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 scarcement 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 year's 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 pos- 

 sible, 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 vacan- 

 cies consequently 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 con- 

 sideration prevent your doing this, for on it depends much of your 

 success. 



Having your plants in readiness, and dressed in this manner, lay 

 them by the heels in the earth, to be taken up as wanted, lest their 

 roots should become dry and be injured thereby. Then proceed to 

 form your ditch, which should be four feet wide at least at top, nar- 

 rowing with a gentle slope on each side towards the bottom, to the 

 perpendicular depth of two feet and a half, where it should be one 



