84 THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FAEM. 



efficient means are used for its protection from stock or 

 ground game. Various devices are used for the purpose ; 

 the stake-hedge already described is amongst the most 

 efficient ; unfortunately circumstances frequently preclude 

 its use. The improved wire fence to which we have already 

 referred, is the most readily available ; and where 

 ground game is numerous, wire netting must be used* 

 Another important point is to keep the young plants free 

 from weeds ; except this is attended to, the stems grow 

 bare of side branches at the bottom, which greatly detracts 

 from the value of the fence. After the first year the fence 

 should be trimmed with a light bill, the cuts being 

 made by an upright stroke of a sharp tool. When kept free 

 from weeds, and the cutting carefully attended to, a thick 

 strong serviceable fence will soon spring up. The operation 

 of cutting should never be performed until the wood has 

 become fully ripe, otherwise the shoots die back, and the- 

 result is a weak growth the next year. Hedges that 

 have been neglected during their earlier stages are best 

 renovated by cutting and laying. The method we have 

 described, of planting a double row of quick is particu- 

 larly adapted to this purpose. When the cutting and 

 laying is skilfully performed, with one line laid to the right 

 hand, and the other to the left, it forms an impenetrable 

 barrier against all kinds of stock. In laying a fence we 

 prefer living to dead stakes, particularly in young fences, 

 where there is generally plenty of wood. The great 

 objection to the laying pf young fences is that the stems- 

 are inevitably split down to the crown ; this forms a 

 receptacle for rain and moisture, and tends to shorten the 

 life of the plants. 



Where however hedges are skilfully managed, cutting 



