II E D 



HED 



sets, one to each side of the trench ; and then, 

 in either method, proceeding in digging, turning 

 one or two spades of earth in upon the roots of 

 the sets ; and at eight or ten inches from these, 

 plant one or two sets more in the same order, 

 digging and earthing them in as the others; and 

 thus proceed, digging along and planting the 

 row of sets as the work advances ; observing in 

 double rows to place the sets opposite to the in- 

 tervals in the rows of each other. 



In planting with the dibble, the ground 

 should be previously well dug over a spade deep ; 

 then trimming the straggling roots and tops of 

 the plants, with the dibble make a hole for each 

 set at the above distances, inserting the roots a 

 proper depth, and close the earth well about 

 each set, as planted. 



In forming Hedges by sowing the seeds at 

 once in the intended places for the plants to re- 

 main, the ground should be properly dug, and 

 then either one drill for a single row, or two for a 

 double Hedge, should be formed, a foot asunder, 

 sowing the seed tolerably thick in them, and 

 covering it an inch or two ill depth with the 

 earth. The place should he kept very clear from 

 weeds, both before and after the plants appear ; 

 and if the plants are any where too thick, they 

 may be thinned out at the proper season. 



All such Hedges as are exposed to cattle, 

 must, as soon as planted, be protected either 

 with a stake and bush Hedge, hurdles, or rails, 

 for four or five years, till they grow up. They 

 shouldalso be duly hoed and weeded whileyoung, 

 and kept very well cleared from all sorts of 

 ■weeds. This should be particularly attended to 

 the first two years. 



And where designed to be trained, they should 

 he annually clipped over in summer, being top- 

 ped sparingly while young, only just trimming off 

 the tops of the straggling and run- away shoots, to 

 pieservealittleregularity,that the whole may ad- 

 vance equally, and promote lateral wood to 

 thicken them as they advance; and cut in mo- 

 derately on the sides. But when arrived at nearly 

 their proper height, as four, five, or six feet, or 

 niorCj they may be trimmed in close on the 

 sides and top annually, to preserve them thick 

 and within their proper bounds, cutting the 

 sides always first as even as possible; then the 

 tops, which should also be cut as even as a line ; 

 always cutting in nearly to the old wood of the 

 former year's clipping, otherwise the Hedges 

 will get too broad ; the tops being always kept 

 narrower than the bottoms. 



The neatest mode of cutting them at the tops 

 is that of the ridge form. 



Regular Hedges wire formerly in great re- 

 quest in gardens : almost all the different com- 



partments and divisions of pleasure-grounds 

 were surrounded with them, of various sorts of 

 trees and shrubs, both evergreens and deciduous, 

 which being neatly trained ana clipped once or 

 twice annually, sometimes appeared very orna- 

 mental ; but from their surrounding, shutting, 

 out, and obstructing the sight of the different 

 shrubbery borders, clumps, and other parts, as 

 well as their concealing the grounds, and ap- 

 pearing stiff and formal, they are at present 

 little in use. They are only introduced occa-' 

 sionally, either as outward or division fences, or 

 for shelter, shade, &c. in particular compart- 

 ments, and to cover unsightly objects. 



The hedges formed of lofty elm, lime, beech, 

 and some other sorts of deciduous trees, in 

 pleasure-grounds, for ornamental training, are 

 also laid aside, as being stiff, awkward, and 

 troublesome in keeping in order. 



The various fancy devices in hedge-work have 

 likewise given way to a better and more easy 

 rural taste. 



In addition to what has been said on hedges 

 formed of the more common sorts of plants," it 

 may be observed, that the laurel, though a sin- 

 gularly beautiful evergreen, adorned with a noble 

 large foliage, forming vigorous shoots, never 

 grows so compact, or is so easily kept in form 

 as some other sorts ; besides, its leaves being 

 very large, when clipped with shears, they are 

 unavoidably cut through, and so stubbed and 

 mangled as to have a disagreeable appearance. 

 In these hedges, therefore, instead of perform- 

 ing their annual training with shears, the shoots 

 should be trimmed off with a knife, to preserve 

 the leaves entire. This plant is proper to train 

 Hedge-fashion to hide any disagreeable fence, 

 and will grow either under trees, in the shade, 

 or in an open exposure, and is of quick growth. 

 Hedges of it should he planted in one row, at 

 from eighteen inches to three feet distance, ac- 

 cording to the size of the plants at the time of 

 planting them out. 



The Laurustinus, from its being not only 

 an evergreen, but a beautiful flowering shrub, 

 forms a delightful Hedge for ornament, as it is 

 covered with flowers in winter and spring. It is 

 also well adapted for training hedge-fashion 

 against any shabby fence or naked wall. In 

 either method, it should be planted in one row, 

 at from eighteen inches to three feet distance. 



The I'hillyrca and Alaternus, being beautiful 

 evergreens, form very ornamental Hedges. Thev 

 greatly resemble each other; hut the phillyrea 

 being the strongest grower, as well as thickest 

 shooter, is the more proper for a hedge : for 

 variety both may be used : they are also good 

 evergreen shrubs for training hedge-fashion 



