Book IV. 



HEDGE FENCES. 



475 



454 



2970. The double ditch, with a bank between {fig. 454), is not often used, unless in cases where it is 

 meant either to plant hedges or trees on the bank between the ditches. Considered as a fence, either with 

 or without a hedge, it has an advantage over the single ditch, as the earth 

 taken out of the two ditches, when properly laid up, will form a bank of a 

 somewhat formidable appearance, which cattle will not very readily 

 W///mm7/'////////////////////Mtffm///m//' ^^^^"^V^ * break over. For the purposes of open drainage it is well 

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^M' adapted, especially by the sides of highways, where the lands have a 

 ii'mM/J///JM/////J/M//m^^ considerable declivity towards the road; the ditch next the field, by 



receiving the water on that side, prevents it from overflowing and washing the road, a circumstance 

 which very frequently happens in such situations ; while the ditch on the side next the road, by receiving 

 and carrying off the moisture that falls upon it, and which would otherwise lodge there and destroy it, 

 keeps it constantly dry and in good repair. Where double ditches are made in the immediate vicinity ot 

 high grounds, or on the sides of highways, care should be taken to prevent the water from the furrows or 

 side drains from running into the main ditch at right angles. Where this is neglected, much trouble and 

 inconvenience arise ; as when the water comes from a height, during heavy rains, in a straight line into 

 the ditch, it presses with accelerated force against the sides of it; and if the soil is of a loose incoherent 

 nature, the bank will be undermined and washed away in many places. To prevent tliis, nothing more is 

 requisite than to alter the direction of the furrows, or small side ditches, at a few yards' distance from 

 their opening into the main ditch. 



'J971. The double ditch and hedge is now general in many parts of Britain, especially upon what are 

 termed cold lands ; from an idea, that a single row of plants would not grow sufficiently strong or thick 

 , to form a proper fence. The advocates for this fence 



455 iC^, farther allege, that in addition to the two rows of plants 



forming a more sufficient fence, an opportunity is 

 afforded of planting a row or rows of trees on the mid- 

 dle of the bank, {fig. 455.) This fence is liable to 

 many objections : the expense of forming the ditches, 

 the hedge-plants made use of, and the ground occupied 

 thereby being double what is requisite in a single ditch 

 and hedge. From twelve to eighteen or twenty feet is 

 the least that is required for a double ditch and hedge : 

 this space, in the circumference of a large field, is so 

 considerable, that upon a farm of 500 acres, divided into 

 fifteen enclosures, the fences alone would occupy above 

 forty acres. By throwing up a bank in the middle, the 

 whole of the nourishment, not only of both hedges, but 

 also of the row of trees, is confined solely to that space, 

 which, from its being insulated by the ditches, and elevated so much above the common surface, not only 

 curtails the nourishment of the hedges and row of trees, but exposes them to all the injuries arising from 

 drought, frost, &c. The idea of two rows of plants making a better fence than one is certainly no good 

 reason for such an unnecessary waste of land and money ; as, in almost every instance, where the plants 

 are properly adapted to the soil and climate, one row will be found quite sufficient; but, if it should be 

 preferred to have two rows, the purpose will be answered equally well with a single ditch, or even 

 without a ditch at all. 



SuBSECT. 2. Hedge Fences. 



2972. Hedge fences are of two kinds ; either such as are made up of dead materials, 

 45g or such as are formed of living plants of some sort or 



other. 

 jNV:\i'/lhW!/lVi,U\l;,,y,/> 2973. Dead hedges (Jig. 456.) are made with the 



prunings of trees, or the tops of old thorn or other 

 hedges that have been cut down ; and are principally 

 intended for temporary purposes, such as the pro- 

 tection of young hedges till they have acquired a suf- 

 ficient degree of strength to render them fencible 

 without any other assistance. For this purpose the dead hedge is well adapted, and 

 lasts so long as to enable the live fence to grow up and complete the enclosure. In 

 many cases, however, dead hedges are had recourse to as the sole fence, and where there 

 is no intention of planting quicks, or any other hedge. From their very perishable, 

 nature, however, they are found to be exceedingly expensive ; so much so, mdeed, that, 

 after the first or second year, they cannot be kept in repair at a less expense than from 

 a fifth to a tenth part of the value of the land, and sometimes more. When dead 

 hedges are meant for the protection of young live fences, if the quick fence is planted 

 upon the common surface, the dead hedge is made in a trench or furrow immediately 

 behind it, in such a way as to prevent the sheep or cattle grazing in the enclosed field 

 from injuring it. Where the quick fence, however, is planted upon the side of a ditch, 

 the dead hedge is for the most part made on the top of the mound formed by the earth 

 taken out of the ditch : these are called plain dead hedges, being made by cutting the 

 thorns or brush- wood, of which they consist, into certain lengths, and putting them into 

 the earth. We call them plain, in opposition to other descriptions of dead hedges where 

 more art is used ; such as the dead hedge with upright stakes wattled, and the common 

 plaited hedge bound together at the top with willows. 



2974. A dead hedge is made in the following manner . " A hedgerand an assistant are necessary for this 

 business. The man cuts the stems of the thorns about three feet long, with the cutting-bill or axe, as their 

 strength may require, and he lays one cut piece above another, to form a bundle, taking care to add some 

 of the small twigs to each bundle to thicken their appearance ; and he then compresses the whole with his 

 foot, so that the bundle may stick together. He thus makes and prepares several bundles in readiness. 

 The hedger takes his spade, and, fixing on the part which the line of dead hedge is to occupy, he turns up 

 a spadeful of the earth, as whole as possible, as if he were digging a piece of ground of the breadth of the 

 spade. After he has laid this spadeful of earth, so as a bundle of thorns may lean against it in an inclining 

 position, the man hands him one of the bundles over the breasted hedge with a fork. The butt-end of the 

 bundle goes into the spade-furrow, and leans from him against the spadeful which he has placed. The 



