On Hedges. 385 



vent their spoiling, and to feed cattle with them ; to 

 heap up the dung, covering the mass with earth, as it 

 enlarges, and to sow the cow dung and earth in drills 

 early in the spring, in ground previously cleansed ; — 

 whence the young plants may be transplanted to the 

 spot intended for their reception ; or if planted on the 

 surface, they may be sown in trenches on the borders 

 of the field previously prepared for them, by a crop of 

 potatoes or turnips or a clean fallow. They may be 

 thinned as they grow to the proper distance, and the 

 spare plants removed to other places. 



The following practice of a ''judicious farmer" in the 

 vale of Pickering, Yorkshire, may be profitably adopt- 

 ed with the haw of the Newcastle, or cockspur thorn. 

 ** His practice has been to plough a slip of ground on 

 each side of the intended line of the fence, the preced- 

 ing spring ; and having previously dunged it, he plant- 

 ed it with potatoes. During summer, the land is re- 

 peatedly cleaned with the hoe ; in autumn, the pota- 

 toes being removed, the entire slip is gathered into a 

 ridge with the plough ; and the ensuing spring the 

 quick is planted, nursery-wise, in a trench run along 

 the middle of the ridge. The success of this method 

 has proved equal to what might be expected from ma- 

 nagement so obviously judicious." Marshall's Econo- 

 my of Yorkshire, vol. I, page 202, London, 1796. 



On pruning hedges. — The injurious effect of sum- 

 mer pruning is mentioned by Mr. Neill, and his expe- 

 rience accords precisely w^ith the remarks of Dr. An- 

 derson of Scotland, one of the very best authorities on 

 every subject either connected with agriculture or any 

 other on which he treats. He was a practical farmer and 



VOL. III. c 3 



