FENCING. 159 



SECTION 4. Thorn Hedges. 



Hedges for the general fencing of fields in this country usually con- 

 sist of thorn-plants alone, but I have found it much better to plant a 

 mixture of beech along with the thorn. Along the sides of roads, and 

 sometimes along the boundary of a plantation, where we often find a 

 greater run of water than can be contained in an ordinary pipe-drain, it 

 is necessary to have an open ditch in front of the hedge, and the hedge 

 itself planted upon a raised embankment, as shown in fig. 37. 



FIG. 37. 



A ditch or open drain, a, is opened three feet wide at top, from 

 twenty to thirty inches deep, as the case may be, and about twelve 

 inches broad at the bottom. The best portion of the soil from the 

 ditch is thrown up, so as to form the embankment b. This embank- 

 ment is raised to a height of eighteen inches, which gives shelter to 

 the young plants for some time. The bank being made three feet wide, 

 a drain is run along the opposite side or back of the fence, as at c, 

 to catch the water from that side. This drain shoiild be closed in, and 

 receive a pipe at the bottom, as at e, if the land on that side is used 

 for agricultural purposes; but in the case of a plantation, an open 

 drain will answer the purpose better. With a drain on each side of 

 the hedge, the plants have a dry bed, which is essential, because thorn 

 or beech will not thrive well in a wet soil. If the side at d is exposed, 

 a wooden paling or wire fence should be erected to protect the hedge 

 against the inroads of cattle or sheep. This wooden or wire fence will 

 require to stand till the hedge is in a state^to act as a fence, and this 

 is generally from seven to nine years. 



Having had all these operations done as described, proceed next to 

 plant the thorn and beech plants on the side, as shown. The thorn- 

 plants, before being inserted, should be cut over to within about four or 

 five inches from top of the roots ; but the beech-plants should not be cut 



