II. ENCLOSING, LAYING OUT. 



the bottom j that is to say, bend it down longwise the 

 hedge, and give it a cut on the upper side about two 

 inches from the stem ; cut off the top of it so as to leave 

 the remainder a foot lorigj bend it down to the ground, 

 making it lie as close as possible to the stems of the 

 neighbouring plant, and fasten it to the ground with two 

 pegs. When you have done this all the way along, there 

 will be one plash for every interval between the stems of 

 the plants. When this is done, cut down the upright 

 shoots, which you have not plashed down, to within four 

 inches of the bottom ; or, rather, to within an inch or so 

 of that part of the stem out of which the plashed shoot 

 issues. The next October, that is to say, at the end of 

 the fourth summer, you will have a complete, efficient, 

 and beautiful fence. This fence will want topping and 

 clipping, in order to keep it of uniform height, and 

 smooth on the sides. You may let it go to what height 

 you please ; but, in order to have a hedge thick at the 

 bottom, you must trim the hedge in such a way as for 

 the outsides of the bottom of it not to be dripped by the 

 upper parts of the hedge. This is a very important 

 matter j for, if the bottom of the hedge be hollow, holes 

 are easily made in it, and it soon becomes no fence at all. 



33. If the hedge be made of honey locusts, two rows 

 of plants are better than one, the distances being the 

 same as before-mentioned. These do not do so well for 

 plashing as the hawthorn or black thorn j but they send 

 out numerous side-shoots, and these very strong. These 

 locusts should not be cut down till the end of the autumn 

 after planting ; or they may be cut down the next spring, 

 and close to the ground. Each will then send up three 





