308 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



fai'm. Were every farmer simply to cut down the 

 weeds all round his fences before they run to seed, this 

 annoyance would be spared to himself and his neigh- 

 bours. 



The plan of cutting down old and overgrown hedges 

 to the roots answers very well when there are no con- 

 siderable gaps to be filled, or dead thorns to be re- 

 moved ; but when there is a deficiency of plants, or a 

 considerable decay of the hedge, a better way is to cut 

 down one- fourth of the whole quantity to the height in- 

 tended for the fence, and to bend down and warp the 

 remaining three-fourths of the upright stems, twisting 

 them in amongst the rest, and thus supplying the gaps. 

 This is called plashing the hedge. 



In the county of Hertford, where coppice-wood is 

 frequently used in hedges, the method of plashing is as 

 follows : The hedgers first begin to clear the old hedge 

 of all the dead wood, brambles, and other irregular 

 growing rubbish, leaving all along the top of the bank 

 the straightest and best growing stems of the thorn, 

 hazel, elm, ash, oak, sallow, and beech, as well as other 

 kinds, to the number of about five or six in the yard. 

 But where there are any gaps or places that are thin of 

 live wood, more are left on each side of them. This 

 being done, they have recourse to the repairing of the 

 ditches, the whole of the earthy material from which 

 is laid upon the banks with great care ; the overlooker 

 being attentive to the matter. When the ditches have 

 been thus finished, the men return to the hedges. A 

 portion of the stems of the plants left in clearing the 

 old hedges is cut off at the height of three feet from 

 the top of the bank, being reserved for hedge-stakes to 

 the hedge which is to be raised. This is an excellent 

 practice, as such stakes, from their being immovable 

 and incapable of rotting, keep up the new hedge in such 

 a manner that it never falls or leans in any direction. 

 Dead hedge-stakes are in the next place driven firmly 

 into the bank, where they are wanted ; sallows or wil- 



