FIELD FENCES. 81 



turf and the face of the ditch ; this prevents the soil from 

 crumbling away and leaving the roots of the plants exposed 

 at a later stage of their growth. The first row of sods are 

 dressed off to a uniform depth, and on these the young 

 plants are placed horizontally 4 inches apart; the soil 

 is then excavated from the ditch, forming a mound on 

 the plants. The face of the mound is dressed off at the 

 same angle as that of the ditch, and neatly rounded at the 

 back and top. Sometimes the stem of the young plant is 

 cut off in a slanting direction near the root, leaving the 

 ends of the stems slightly projecting beyond the face of the 

 mound : but a moment's reflection will convince the most 

 casual observer of the injurious effects such treatment 

 has on the future growth of the plant. 



We never cut off the stems until the second year, and 

 then only when the wood has been fully ripened. The 

 stems are cut off by a pair of shears specially constructed 

 for the purpose ; care being taken not to bruise or lacerate 

 the bark. The plant requires constant attention during 

 the earlier stages of its growth. An important point is 

 careful protection from the inroads of stock and ground- 

 game : and it is essential that the young plants should be 

 kept free both from weeds and from long grass. When 

 three years old, they are switched with a light hand-bill. 

 For hedges of this kind the best form for the fence to 

 assume is that of a ridge, the sides flat and tapering 

 to a sharp roof-line every part of the surface being thus 

 exposed to the zenith. In this way they suffer less from 

 a heavy fall of snow than when round or flat on the 

 top. If the soil and climate be favourable, they will be 

 sufficient for a sheep fence by the end of the eighth 

 year. Sheep are most destructive to young quickset 



