PLASHING} &C. 213 



fible the remaining pliable branches, crofting them 

 in the manner of bafket work. Such as are too 

 ftrong to be bent, may be cut half through with 

 the bill, which will render them pliable enough 

 to be iifed ; and fuch as are not required for any 

 of the above-mentioned purpofes, muft be cut oil" 

 clofe to the ground. After the plafhing is iinifli- 

 ed, the hedge fhould be dreffed fmooth on both 

 fides by the fwitching-bill and fhears. 



A Hawthorn, either in flower or in fruit, is a 

 t>eautiful object. ' The time of plafhing hedges 

 is a proper period for felecling fuch as promife 

 to make handfome trees, which fliould be left for 

 that purpofe. Surely the moft parfimonious will 

 grant this indulgence to his neighbours, who may 

 happen to have a tafte for fuch objects. They 

 will repay him with many thanks \ and the feather- 

 ed tenants of the grove will fmg his praife for 

 the haws, in their * wild warbling notes. * 



There is another method of plafhfng, which 

 has been fuggefted as an improvement upon the 

 foregoing ; and that is, by not cutting any of the 

 ftems over as flakes, but weaving in the tops a- 

 long with the other branches. This method will 

 not have fo immediate a tendency to bare the low- 

 er parts of the hedge by the growth of the top; 

 as when many of the plants are cut over for 

 ftakes ; but ftill, at the bendings, the growth will 

 rufh out with vigour : befides, this plan is at- 

 tended 



