2U On Hedges. 



ing up a hedge; which is, to allow the thorns to grow 

 without applying a knife to their tops, till their stems 

 be five or six inches in circumference. In good soil, 

 with careful weeding, they will be of that bulk in ten 

 or twelve years, and be fifteen feet high or upward. 

 The lateral branches only must be attended to. Those 

 next the ground must be pruned within two feet of 

 the stem: those above must be made shorter and 

 shorter, in proportion to their distance from the ground ; 

 and at five feet high they must be cut close to the 

 stem ; leaving all above full freedom of growth. By 

 this dressing, the hedge takes on the appearance of a 

 very steep roof; and it ought to be kept in that form 

 by pruning. This form gives free access to rain, sun 

 and air ; every twig has its share, and the whole is 

 preserved in vigour. When the stems have arrived 

 at their proper bulk, cut them over at five feet from 

 the ground, where the lateral branches end.-^A 

 hedge trained up in this manner, is impenetrable even 

 by a bull ; he may press in the lateral branches ; but 

 the stems stand firm. — Good thorns are more es- 

 sential in this manner of training a hedge than in any 

 other : they ought all to be of an equal size and 

 equally vigorous, that they may not overtop one an-^ 

 other. ^' See part I. chap xii. on fences. 



In Great Britain, hedge-fences are generally accom- 

 panied by ditch and bank : principally (I presume) be- 

 cause the ditch and bank, aided by a slight railing, 

 make an immediate fence ; and because in fiat grounds 

 ditches serve for drains. But in America, where wood 

 is yet sufficient in quantity for complete fences, while 

 the hedges are growing; and where, too, we are sub- 



