CALEB KIRK ON HEDGING. 279 



If rightly done, it steadies the head of the stakes, 

 and keeps them in a direct line, and serves the pur- 

 pose of holding straggling shoots that may be di- 

 rected under its confinement, and confines the top 

 of the hedge, holding it. steady for trimming until its 

 own growth gives it stability. 



The next year after being laid it-should be exam- 

 ined, and any shoot that inclines to leave the right 

 direction should be cut away, unless there is a va- 

 cant spot to receive it ; then it ought to be intro- 

 duced into such vacuum. By frequently trimming 

 the superfluous branches off, the body becomes more 

 dense and impenetrable. 



About five years past I adopted the summer trim- 

 ming about the middle of June, and found it much 

 easier to accomplish while the shoot was in a tender 

 state ; and I have regularly done the trimming in 

 that and the following month ever since, finding the 

 labour much easier performed, and no bad effect on 

 the hedges, though warned by some to the contrary, 

 apprehending bad consequences to arise from cutting 

 at that season. 



The present season having been excessively dry 

 and warm, I have not discovered the least injury : 

 they have held their foliage as well as usual. 



My conclusion has been, that by cutting when the 

 sap is in full flow, and taking away the small shoots 

 that were carrying off a considerable portion for 

 their support, that portion must diffuse and spread 

 through the whole body of the hedge, and add 

 strength to every remaining part. 



The foregoing remarks will apply to either kind 

 of thorn as it regards the treatment of them ; but 

 the Virginia kind has advantages, though not so 

 rugged in appearance as the Delaware : they are 

 more uniform in their growth, and give regularity 

 and uniformity to the hedge. But what is very im- 

 portant is their inclination to send out an abundance 

 of shoots or suckers when cut, not only from the 



