128 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE, 



will smother the weak, and make the hedge irregular. Then, 

 after cutting off the tops of the plants so that three inches 

 remains above the ground, the earth is filled in and the work 

 is finished. Some cut the tops off after planting. The first 

 mode will be found the quickest. 



The usual way of planting, is, for one man to take the 

 plants in one hand, and lay them with the other, six to eight 

 inches distant in the row, planting backwards, with another 

 man filling enough earth on the roots, the moment the plant- 

 er la}'S one in, to keep it in its place. Planting can be done 

 very quick in this way, if the person filling in the earth 

 watches the setter. After this is done then fill up the trench 

 nearly full, giving each plant a tread with the foot after; 

 then fill up the trench, and tread again. Smoothing off a 

 little with the spade finishes the operation of planting, noth- 

 ing more being required the first season except to keep the 

 ground clean, which can be done by hoeing, or where there 

 is room it may be done by the cultivator. It is not, however, 

 the best way to wait until weeds grow, but use the cultivator 

 or hoe as soon as they begin to make their appearance. 



The second year, if the plants have been kept clean the 

 previous season, will have grown strong and made vigorous 

 shoots, will require to be cut down again within six or eight 

 inches of the ground, and, about the end of June, if they 

 have grown strong, may be left about eighteen inches at this 

 cutting. Encourage all the side branches at the bottom, 

 keeping it narrow at the top, wedge form, increasing the 

 breadth at the bottom, gradually, as the hedge increases in 

 height, and another cutting about the end of August. Cutting 

 within six inches of the June cutting will complete the sec- 

 ond year, making it about two feet high. 



The third year the same treatment will be required, cutting 

 about the end of June, and last of August, which, if vigorous, 

 will now be about three feet in height. If this treatment is 

 carried out until the height required is obtained, which ought 

 to be about five feet, with the base resting on the ground, 

 thirty inches to three feet wide, the hedge will then be all 

 that can be desired ; and if cut back close to the old wood, 



