OF FENCES, AND RATES. 47 



3. The white thorn is considered to be preferable to 

 every other plant for a fence, being, when placed in a proper 

 soil, a quick grower, becoming strong by age and attention, 

 not running at the root as the black thorn does, and having 

 prickles for its defence.* It certainly requires continued care 

 for a number of years, in order to be rendered a good and 

 permanent fence ; but when properly trained, and occasion- 

 ally cut over, or dressed in the wedge-shape, it will last for 

 ages.f If suffered to grow too tall, it always makes a bad 

 fence, becoming open below, and from its height, the crops 

 around must be injured. When hedges therefore come to 

 a proper height and strength as fences, they ought to be 

 cut into the shape of what is called a hog-main, i. e. brought 

 to a point along the top, and preserved in that form by 

 yearly switching.:}: This can generally be done for a farth- 

 ing per rood of six yards six inches each. This plan ought 

 always to be adopted along the sides of roads, as it keeps 

 them dry, and preserves them from being broken up. 



Hedges are often accompanied with hedge-rows, and 

 sometimes by what are called belts of planting. 



* See Kames' Gentleman Farmer, p. 272. 



f See Kerr's Berwickshire, p. 186. There is some reason to hope, 

 that the Cockspur thorn of America, may in some respects be preferable 

 even to the white thorn ; and for trying that experiment, considerable 

 quantities of seed have been commissioned from America, by the Board 

 of Agriculture. Along the sea coast, the Tamariska Gallica, or rather 

 the Germanica, has been recommended, as not likely to be materially af- 

 fected by the sea breeze. 



% The only objection to this is, that the farmer has frequent occasion 

 for the cuttings of strong hedges to form temporary fences. But in oppo- 

 sition to this it may be urged, that good fences cannot be obtained, un- 

 less the hedges are regularly switched ; and that if they are allowed to 

 stand, till a crop of wood or cuttings can be procured, the real object for 

 which they were planted, will not be accomplished. 



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