A CHAPTER ON HEDGES. 37l 



at about the distance they will be needed, and then plant them 

 twelve inches apart, keeping them as nearly as possible in a per- 

 fectly straight line ; for it is worth bearing in mind, that you are 

 performing an act, the unimpeachable straightforwardness of which 

 will no doubt be criticized for a great many years afterwards. Press 

 the earth moderately round the stem of the plant with the foot, when 

 the filling-in of the pulverized soil is nearly completed. And, finally, 

 level the whole nicely with the hoe. 



Having finished this row, take up the line and fix it again, six 

 inches distant ; open the trench in the opposite direction, and set 

 the plants in the same manner. This completes the planting. The 

 next point, and it is one of great importance, is the cultivation which 

 the young plants require until they become a hedge. It is indeed 

 quite useless to plant a hedge, as some persons do, and leave it 

 afterwards to be smothered by the evil genius of docks and thistles. 

 A young hedge requires about the same amount of cultivation as a 

 row of Indian corn. The whole of the prepared strip of ground 

 must be kept loose with the hoe, and free from weeds. Then light 

 dressings for the first two or three summers will be required to effect 

 this, and the thrifty and luxuriant state in which the plants are 

 thereby kept, will well repay it, to the eye alone. After that, the 

 branches of the hedge will have extended so, as in a good degree to 

 shade and occupy the ground, and little more than a slight occa- 

 sional attention to the soil will be required. 



A few words must be given to the trimming and clipping of our 

 now established hedge. 



The plants having, before they were planted, been cut off nearly 

 even with the surface of the ground, it follows, that, in the ensuing 

 spring, or one year from the time of planting, they have made many 

 shoots from each stem. Let the whole of this growth then be cut 

 down to within six inches of the ground. 



The following spring, which will be two years of growth, cut back 

 the last season's shoots, leaving only one foot of the current season's 

 growth. This will leave our hedge, altogether, eighteen inches high. 



The third year shorten back the tops so as to leave again one 

 foot of the year's growth. The hedge will now be two and a half 

 feet high. 



