MARCH.] THE NURSERY. 261 



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 preferring the saw to the bill, for this pur- 

 pose, when it can be used conveniently. Proceed then to lay ck>wn 

 the intended shoots, first lopping off the straggling side branches, 

 and cutting or gashing occasionally such of the larger groAVths as 

 are not pliant enough to yield and keep their intended stations, ob- 

 serving to cut them no deeper than what is absolutely necessary ; 

 lay and weave them in between the stakes almost to a horizontal 

 position, all laining 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 w r ere first cut out, previously divesting them of all their 

 side branches, and working two together, lapping round 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 finish- 

 ed. 



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

 ing, 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 crouding your plashes too much, and never lay in more 

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

 young productions will have the benefit of the air, and grow much 

 stronger than otherwise. 



Old overgrown fences, which have been planted in the hedge 

 and ditch way, may be all cut clean off with the saw, within six 

 inches of their roots, and the fallen earth in the bottom of the 

 ditch dug up and laid at the back of them ; they will shoot vigo- 

 rously, and soon form a fine fresh hedge. 



Large ground hedges will be improved, by cutting them down at 

 intervals often or fifteen years, to the height of three, four, or five 

 feet, and where vacancies occur, to fill them with plashing, always 

 preferring, on these occasions, the saw to the bill, especially when 

 the shoots are large. 



The Plane, Tulip, and Settle Tree*. 



The Plalanus occidental}*) or Plane-tree, commonly called the 

 large button-wood, and in some places, though very improperly, 

 sycamore, is a valuable tree for shade and many other useful pur- 

 poses. It may be propagated, either by cuttings, layers, or seed ; 

 but the last method is much preferable to either of the former, not 

 only with respect to this, but to every other tree bearing seeds, 

 which may be cultivated for its timber; and although it may appear 

 more tedious at first, it will in the end be found the most expedl- 



