HOW TO GROW GOOD FENCES. 231 



on our own farm we have fences attempted to be 

 grown on the top of mounds five feet high, and which 

 are made out of some of the lightest agricultural 

 soil in England, so light, indeed, as at first to appear 

 to be a nearly pure sand. On the same farm, again, 

 we have yawning ditches in oolitic limestone, which 

 never carried water ; and Mr. Parkes made ditches of 

 this kind on the College-farm at Cirencester, which 

 have ever been equally dry. These banks and ditches 

 are worse than useless in our own case : quicks will 

 not grow at all ; and so the bank is covered with all 

 kinds of shrubs, mixed with weeds, neither sufficient 

 to keep in cattle, nor prevent the workmen trespassing 

 in every direction. 



The next subject for consideration is that of the 

 planting of the quicks. To this end we should choose 

 our plants to be of about four or five years old ; and 

 in all cases, if possible, should personally superintend 

 their removal from the nursery. Old bundles of 

 quicks, that have stood it may be two or three weekly 

 markets, will be sure to cause disappointment. 

 They should be removed so as to secure as many 

 of the rootlets — not merely the larger roots — as 

 possible. 



In planting, which should be done as quickly as 

 may be after removal, avoid the dibble, or anything 

 which would tend to combine the roots in a small 

 compass. The best plan is to use the spade and to 

 spread the roots carefully ; then cover them up, and 

 tread the plants firmly into the ground, taking care, 

 if it be in a retentive soil, not to leave holes in which 

 water could stagnate. 



When so planted, at about from six to nine inches, 



