SITUATION SOIL, CHAP. 



or four stout shoots. When these have grown through the 

 summer, take out any little weak shoots, close to the 

 stem, and cut down the stout ones within three or four 

 inches of the ground. Out of these stems will come such 

 quantities of shoots, that the fence will be complete in a 

 very short time, and will only want trimming and clip- 

 ping. The whole of the space between the two rows 

 will be filled up by the side shoots j and the hedge will 

 be quite impassible by any animal bigger, at any rate, 

 than a rat or a cat j and, besides all the rest, the foliage 

 is so very fine, that even as an ornament, it would be de- 

 sirable to have it as a hedge. 



34. With regard to the height of this hedge, it might 

 be six or seven feet : but not higher ; for, if too high, it 

 would keep the sun from part of the wall on the south 

 side of the garden. If higher, it would give more shelter, 

 indeed $ but then this benefit would be over-balanced by 

 the injury done in the way of shade. By the means of a 

 hedge of this sort, you not only secure the use of the 

 outsides of your walls -, but you obtain security for the 

 produce of the inside. For gardeners may scold as long 

 and as vehemently as they please, and law-makers may 

 enact as long as they please, mankind will never look 

 upon taking fruit in an orchard, or a garden, as felony, 

 nor even as a serious trespass. Besides, there are such 

 things as boys, and every considerate man will recollect, 

 that he himself was once a boy. So that, if you have a 

 mind to have for your own exclusive use what you grow 

 in your garden, you must do one of two things j resort 

 to terrors and punishments, that will make you detested 

 by your neighbours, or provide an insurmountable fence. 



