FENCING GROUNDS IN GENERAL. 203 



* without excufe' in having their arable fields 

 and plantations expofed to the depredations of 

 cattle. 



The fuperiority of living fences over dead ones 

 feems to be eftablifhed by common confent. 



Many varieties of deciduous plants have been 

 recommended ; but none of them have been fo 

 generally adopted as the common Hawthorn.^ In- 

 deed none anfwers the purpofe nearly fo welL 

 It not only makes the ciofeft and mod perfect 

 fence, but it readily takes with almoft any foil, 

 and grows vigoroufly in almoft every fituation ; 

 while mod other hedge-plants affecl: their own 

 particular foils, and mow impatience when placed 

 In others, 



Evergreen fences, of great beauty, value, and 

 durability, may be formed of the Holly; and 

 there are few foils in which it will not grow well. 



DITCHING. 



The lines and boundaries to be converted into 

 fences by ditch and hedge, muft depend upon 

 circumftances, the confideration of which does 

 not at prefent fall in our way. Yet, in general, it 

 may be obferyed, that the line of the ditch to be 

 made ought to be adapted as much as poilible to 

 carry off, both the furface water, and any fpring 

 water contained in the fubfoi!. Moving the line 



