STONE FENCES. 303 



growth, and difficult to raise. It does not bear trans- 

 planting well, and must, therefore, be raised from seed 

 in the spot it is intended to occupy. Were it not for 

 these obstacles, it would doubtless be a very favourite 

 and general plant for hedges, on account of its beautiful 

 rich green (which does not suffer, but rather appears 

 to greater advantage in severe weather), and its sharp 

 and bristling foliage, which is quite impenetrable to 

 cattle, and may be pruned and cropped without injury 

 to the tree. 



Such are the principal plants used in making live- 

 hedges ; but before we speak of the general treat- 

 ment of a growing fence, it will be as well to notice 

 some other kinds of fence in common use. In some 

 places an open ditch, made wide and deep, is the only 

 protection to a field. This is useful as a water-course, 

 but is only to be recommended in low, wet situations. 

 A ha-ha, or sunk fence, is often used in pleasure- 

 grounds, being a dry ditch, one side of which is nearly 

 perpendicular, and faced with brick or stone. A simple 

 earthen mound serves the purpose of a fence in some 

 parts of Wales. Slabs of stone set edgeways are com- 

 mon in Gloucestershire. Hurdles are well known as a 

 convenient movable fence. Netting is not uncommon 

 for the purposes of enclosure ; but it has the inconve- 

 nience of being easily torn by cattle. It is therefore 

 chiefly adapted for shrubberies and pleasure-grounds, 

 where a slight and almost invisible fence of iron is 

 likewise used. 



Stone walls, which are the common fence in some 

 parts of the country, are made of stones without mor- 

 tar, or with it, as it may happen, but more commonly 

 the former. Diy stone walls are made of sand-stone or 

 whin-stone, and are constructed by the help of a frame- 

 work of wood. Two upright posts are fixed together 

 so as to correspond with a vertical section of the wall. 

 When the ground is cleared for the foundation, the line 

 of fence is marked out, and pegs or pins are set along the 



