On Hedging. 27 



and early in the spring of these periods, this examina- 

 tion and supply must by no means be neglected, as 

 upon a faithful closing up of such gaps at the proper 

 time, depends the whole effect of hedging as a sufficient 

 fence. When the plants in the hedge are grown large, 

 it is very difficult to introduce a brother of their own 

 kind amongst them, as the stranger will run more and 

 more risque, the older the hedge is grown, of being 

 stunted or destroyed by the contiguous plants. When 

 from negligence or accident, any of these vacancies 

 should happen to be left unsupplied until it is too late, 

 the simplest and best remedy is to drive a stout season- 

 ed stake of locust, cedar or other lasting wood, into the 

 ground where the plant ought to have been. The length 

 of this stake need not be more than eighteen inches or 

 two feet, where only one plant is missing. And where 

 the deficiency of a number hath left a wide gap, com- 

 mon ingenuity will be able to find out proper ways and 

 means to mend it with stakes or rails. But a hedge with 

 such patches, particularly if they are numerous and 

 large, will appear very unsightly, and be a lasting mo- 

 nument of the mismanagement of its superintendant. 



CULTIVATION OF THE YOUNG HEDGE. 



Through the course of the summer it is to be cleaned 

 from weeds as often as may appear necessary. This 

 operation will be most expeditiously performed by 

 horse labour ; the common plough will generally do 

 very well, and any one who has ever ploughed in a field 

 of Indian corn, ought to know without funher direc- 

 tion how to conduct this work to advantage. The fur- 



