Ill of the Management and 



fliot as much as in fevenp had it been let alone. 

 When the Hedge is about fix Years Growth, 

 get it plafh'd, in February or OBober^ by fome 

 flcilful Hulbandman : This is performed with 

 a very (harp Handbill, in the following Man- 

 ner : Firft, cut off all the fuperfluous Sprays 

 and Straglers ^ then fearch out the principal 

 Stems, and cut them flantways clofe to the 

 Ground, fo far, 'till you make them comply 

 handfomly ; that done, lay them from you 

 Hoping as you go, folding in the leiTer Branches 

 ^hat fpring from them ^ and at every five or 

 fix Foot Drflance referve an upright ftrong 

 Set, cutting it off at the Top to the Height 

 of your intended Hedge, and let it (land as a 

 Stake to fortify your Work, and receive the 

 Turnings of the plalh'd Sets about it. Oak 

 is to be preferv'd for Stakes in this Work, 

 unlefs it be moift moorifh Ground, when 

 Withy, Afh, Maple, or Hazel, driven into 

 the Ground, will do very well. This Plafcing 

 makes an impregnable Hedge in a few Years, 

 and may be repeated as you fee Occafion 5 but 

 you muft fecure the Spring from Cattle with 

 Thorns, 'till it is eftablilh'd. When there 

 are great Trees or Stubs in Hedges, with Gaps 

 for Cattle, which are common in old negledled 

 Fences, cut them fo near the Earth 'till you can 

 lay them acrofs, that the Top of one may reft 

 on the Root of the other,as far as they extend, 

 flopping the Cavities with their Boughs and 

 Branches, In Cornvpall the Hufbandmen fe- 

 cure their Wood and Lands with high Mounds, 



on 



