794 THE COMPLETE GRAZIEK. BOOK ix. 



that when placed upon the surface the}' may fit into each other exactly, 

 and the lower edge of each turf adjust itself above the upper edge of 

 the one below it. The operation of covering or turfing the bank must, 

 of necessity, be commenced from the bottom ; and it is of importance 

 that the first row of turfs should be of the same width throughout, and 

 also that all the individual pieces of which it is composed should be of 

 a uniform breadth. When the first row is completed, another may be 

 placed above it, care being taken to adjust the turfs together with all 

 possible exactitude, so that they may join evenly, with the lower edge 

 of one row slightly overlapping the upper edge of that beneath it. 

 Before the turfs are put on, the earth should be well beaten, and the 

 suiface rendered as even and free from hollows as possible." The 

 slope should be so contrived that the top of the bank shall be about 2 

 feet wide ; it is planted with hawthorn, or with any of the other shrubs 

 aseful for fencing. These earthen banks should be raised in moist, 

 or even in rainy weather, as the turf will then be most likely to adhere 

 and to grow. When they are made in dry weather, and much rain 

 falls soon afterwards, there is danger that the soil between the sods 

 will swell, and by bulging outwards materially affect, if not totally 

 destroy, the solidity as well as the symmetry of the bank. 



II. DITCHES are cut to serve either as drains, or as fences, or to answer 

 both purposes. Those which are made or repaired at the feet of banks 

 on which quickset hedges are raised, should seldom be less than 3 feet 

 wide at the top, by 2 feet in depth, and 9 inches wide at bottom, in 

 the dryest soils ; but in all wet or moist situations they should be 

 both wider and deeper. Thus each side acquires a slope, which is 

 an indispensable necessity ; for when ditches are cut perpendicularly 

 the sides are continually washing down. Whatever be their purpose, 

 whether for draining or fencing, ditches ought to be so constructed 

 that the water they contain may never become stagnant, but run off 

 into some adjoining rivulet or brook. They should likewise be 

 regularly cleaned out every year. 



III. WALLS are a very useful kind of fence in districts where stones 

 can readily be obtained. When well constructed they are of great 

 durability. Although not so ornamental as hedges, they are in every 

 way preferable in point of utility, for they require no nursing, or 

 cleaning, or pruning ; and are not so easily destroyed by the tres- 

 passing of various animals. The benefit is immediate ; they provide 

 excellent shelter, they occupy little, space, and afford neither a harbour 

 for ground vermin nor a nurture for weeds, though they sometimes 

 harbour insects. They make no demand upon the soil, and, if a gap 

 be made, the material is at hand for re-building. 



Limestone, ragstone, gritstone, or any other kind of stone that is 

 convenient, may be used for the purpose ; but limestone and gritstone 

 are preferable, on account of their being most easily prepared. Walls 

 are made either with stones only, in which case they are termed dry 

 stone ivalls ; or with stones and earth intermixed, when they are termed 



