82 THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FARM. 



hedges, both by their eating off the young shoots, and 

 by their rubbing and leaving portions of their wool 

 attached to the leaves and branches. Fences planted in 

 this way, if neglected, form long bare stems open at the 

 bottom, through which sheep push their way. The best 

 plan of renovating such fences is to cut the stems within six 

 inches of the ground ; the cut should be made in a sloping 

 direction and with a smooth face, to prevent the lodgment 

 of moisture. Each stem then throws out numerous suckers, 

 and these in a short time grow into an impenetrable mass. 



Quicks are sometimes planted on the top of a mound, 

 faced on each side with sods and filled up in the centre 

 with soil ; the only advantage is the protection they thus re- 

 ceive from stock during their early stages. In moist climates 

 they thrive well whilst young : but the roots are cramped and 

 they suffer from lack of moisture ; hence fences planted in 

 this way are generally short-lived. 



By far the best system of planting whitethorn fences 

 is on the flat. The line of fence is ranged, and a strip three 

 feet wide set out and dug up to a depth of eighteen to 

 twenty inches. If the soil is a lumpy clay or a weak sand, 

 we prefer keeping the active soil near the surface, the sub- 

 soil being loosened by a fork without bringing it to the 

 surface. The turf is turned in, leaving a mellow surface. 

 Where farm-yard manure can be obtained a good dressing 

 may be dug in ; and on stiff soils lime can be used with ad- 

 vantage. The soil is benefited by being dug up during the 

 early winter months, and exposed to the weather till the 

 planting season arrives. The best time for planting is from 

 early in March to the middle of April. A line is then 

 stretched four inches on one side the centre of the pre- 

 pared ground which should then be firmly trodden 



