PROTECTION OF THE FENCES. 297 



growing, and sent to such a new establishment in a dif- 

 ferent soil, and perhaps a worse climate, they will thrive 

 better by having their roots cut off, and being almost 

 entirely bereft of the means of obtaining nourishment." 



The planting being completed, little more will re- 

 main to be done during the first year. In the second 

 year, after the leaves have fallen, the side-branches are 

 slightly cropped, and the plants kept wide at bottom, 

 and narrow at the top, as represented in the figure on 

 page 295. 



If the hedge is not to be planted on the slope of a 

 ditch, but on the common surface of a field, the opera- 

 tions are more simple. A furrow is drawn along the 

 line of the intended fence, with a common plough, about 

 the end of November, and a labourer walks along the 

 furrow with a bundle of thorn-plants under his arm. 

 These he drops in handfuls of six or eight together at 

 certain distances. When he has exhausted his bundle 

 he returns, and lays the plants in the furrow, so as to 

 lean against its perpendicular side, and at a distance of 

 from four to eight inches asunder. He then covers in 

 the earth from the other side, and setting a foot on each 

 side of the line of plants, he walks slowly along, tread- 

 ing in the earth to the roots of the plants the whole 

 way. The soil is then pointed on each side with the 

 spade, and the work is done. A single labourer work- 

 ing in a good soil, will thus plant several hundred yards 

 of thorns in the course of one day. Sometimes the 

 furrow is laid out with the spade, instead of with the 

 plough, and the planting performed as above. In some 

 cases the dibble is used for planting thorns ; but this is 

 improper, because the roots receive great injury when 

 pressed into a narrow space, or trimmed to suit the hole 

 made by the dibble. When this kind of hedge is made 

 to inclose a pasture field, it is necessary to protect it 

 from the injuries of cattle. This is done by a railing 

 placed on the side where the protection is needed : but 

 if cattle are to be kept on both sides of the hedge, a 



