On Hedging, 31 



determined height, according to the stature and strength 

 of the hedge, he is to cut straight into it with the shears, 

 so as to leave a good .strong stubbage, out of which the 

 next or fourth year's shoots are to arise. The sides of 

 the hedge may also now be trimmed a little next the top 

 — the bottom being still spared to favour its extension. 

 If it has grown well, it will now be about three feet in 

 height after it has been trimmed — in order to have a 

 stout thick hedge, the more gradually it is permitted 

 to rise it will ultimately prove the stronger and more 

 equal throughout. 



At the end of the fourth year the hedge may be 

 brought into its proper shape, by a judicious manage- 

 ment of the shears. When the top is finished, the sides 

 are to be shorn in a sloping direction : but where neat- 

 ness is only a secondary object, the breadth of the hedge 

 towards the bottom is to be impaired as little as possi- 

 ble, it being always the most difficult to get the lateral 

 twigs to extend themselves outwards, the sap naturally 

 inclining to ascend in the upright shoots, and the shear- 

 ing of the sides does not stimulate their growth as is 

 effected on the tops by cutting them. 



The main purpose of trimming hedges, that are mere- 

 , ly intended for fences, is to bring each individual plant 

 into an equality of strength and stature ; but such as 

 are intended for ornament as well as for use, are to be 

 kept constantly trimmed, at least once a year. On a 

 strong soil, when the hedge is in its fifth year, if the 

 shoots are large and rank, it may be trimmed about the 

 latter end of June, when, it has generally terminated its 

 annual growth. It will be much easier to cut the hedge 



