2(38 THE NURSERY. [March. 



same way; but you may suffer some to stand ungrafted, for many 

 will yield very good cider fruit, and perhaps some may produce 

 new and superior kinds. You will be able to judge by leaf, shoot, 

 and bud, which are most likely to produce the best fruit, and which 

 not, and manage them accordingly. 



We have various other plants that might answer for live hedges, 

 which due observation and a little experience will point out; but, 

 upon the whole, I am of opinion, that the cockspur thorn will answer 

 a better purpose with us for outward, strong, and durable fences 

 than any other. 



Plashing of Hedges. 



This is a very necessary operation, especially when hedges are 

 grown old, or have been so neglected as that gaps are formed in 

 several places; and indeed it is the practice in countries where the 

 greatest attention is paid to them, either to plash, or cut them all 

 clean down to within six inches of the ground every fourteen or 

 fifteen years. To perform this business, you must be provided 

 with a good sharp hedge-bill, handsaw, and a pair of strong leather 

 gloves, that will reach up to your elbows, to protect your hands 

 and arms from the spines or thorns; unless you are provided with 

 these you will have a bloody job of it; but being so fortified it will 

 be but a recreative amusement. 



Then select some of the main upright stems at distances in 

 proportion to the general growth of the hedge, to serve for stakes, 

 which are to be cut oft' with the saw at the height of three or four 

 feet from the roots: other stakes are to be drove down in those 

 vacancies where growing ones do not occur, between which, as well 

 as the former, to plash and lay the general branches; observing 

 that the shorter the shoots which are to be plashed, the closer the 

 stakes should be to one another. The remainder of the hedge you 

 are then to thin, leaving only a sufficiency of the best and longest 

 middle-sized shoots, to lay down and work in between those stakes, 

 cutting the others oft' in a sloping manner, within five or six inches 

 of the ground, always preferring the saw to the bill, for this pur- 

 pose, when it can be used conveniently. Proceed then to lay down 

 the intended 9hoots, first lopping off the straggling side branches, 

 and cutting or gashing occasionally such of the larger growths as 

 are not pliant enough to yield and keep their intended stations, ob- 

 serving to cut them" no deeper than what is absolutely necessai \ : 

 lay and weave them in between the stakes almost to a horizontal 

 position, all leaning one way, and their top extremities terminating 

 as much as possible on the ditch side, if any; if not, equally on 

 both. When the hedge is thus plashed, finish the top all the way 

 with some of the longest and'most pliant, but stout, of the shoots 

 which were first cut out, previously divesting them of all their side 

 branches, and working two together, lapping around and over one 

 another between each stake, by which the whole plashing will be 

 kept down to its proper birth: then with the hedge-bill or shears 



