288 GENERAL ECONOMY OF THE FARM. 



The line of fence being determined, it is laid off by means of poles like the 

 ridges of a field, and marked upon the ground. The line of the side of the 

 ditch along which the thorns are to be set, being marked out by the rod and 

 line, and notched by the spade, the workman takes off a part of the earth from 

 the surface of the intended ditch, and lays it along the future line of thorns, 

 about six inches back of the notched line. This forms what is called a scarce- 

 ment. He then beats down the earth or sods thus laid with his spade, so that 

 the outer surface shall be in the line of the future mound, sloping a little back- 

 ward. It is upon the row of earth or sods thus placed, technically called the 

 thorn-bed, that the thorns to be planted are laid. A further portion of 

 the surface of the ditch is then stripped off and thrown behind the thorn-bed. 

 The plants, the stems of which are generally eight inches high, exclusive of 

 the root, are to be placed firmly upon the thorn-bed, so that when the mound 

 is made, they may project a very little beyond the surface, or rather just reach 

 it. The distance at which they may be planted from one another, is about 

 eight inches. While one or more persons are engaged in laying the thorns, 

 another is to shovel up from the ditch the loose mould immediately next the 

 surface, and place it upon the stems of the plants. This earth being com- 

 pressed by the foot, the plants will be firmly fixed in their position. The ditch 

 is cleared out to its full depth, and the earth thrown upon the bank. The 

 mound is then to be rounded at the top, and beat all around by the shovel; and 

 this process completes the formation of the hedge and ditch. The ditch should 

 be narrowed to a spade-breadth at bottom, and so laid out as to permit the 

 regular descent of water. The sides may be made to slope at an angle of 45. 

 The proper time for planting is from October to the beginning of March, or 

 while vegetation is inert. Professor LovSs Elements. 



In the after culture of the hedge, which must be rigidly- 

 attended to, for the first four or five years especially, the appli- 

 cation of new and rich earth to the roots, thorough weeding 

 and loosening the earth of the mound, which is apt to become 

 baked and hard, must not be overlooked neglect, in this 

 case, would be fatal. Obstructions should also, whenever they 

 present themselves, be immediately removed, so that the 

 passage of water may not be interrupted. The value and 

 beauty of the hedge, depends in a great degree upon the 

 management of it while in its young and tender state. The 

 greatest possible care and judgment is to be exercised in prun- 

 ing. LOUDON says, that from the first year of planting till the 

 hedge has risen to five or six feet in height, the main stems 

 ought to be left untouched, and the pruning confined solely to 

 the side branches, leaving those next the root pretty long, and 

 gradually tapering towards the top. 



We have now described the elementary species of the live 

 or hedge fence, which is the base or foundation of all the 

 others. There are also compound fences, the principal and 

 most efficient of which is the stone wall and live fence com- 

 bined. But as it is not likely to be of much practical service, 

 the description is omitted, as well as the description of palings 

 and ornamental fences. 



