FENCING. 161 



receive the roots of the plants, which is generally about eight inches. 

 The plants having been prepared as formerly described, are inserted into 

 this open trench, about nine inches apart, putting in two thorns to one 

 beech. After filling in the earth about the roots, have the whole made 

 level and firm. 



The advantage of planting on the level surface, over the mode of 

 planting with an open drain and embankment, is twofold : 1st, The 

 plants grow faster, and make a fence sooner on the level than on the 

 embankment ; 2d, There is a smaller space of ground occupied with 

 the hedge on the surface than in the other case. 



On the estate of Wass I have in several instances put a drain-pipe 

 into the open ditches, and filled them up to the surface; the gain of 

 land by this mode has been considerable. And many of our old hedges 

 have been very much improved by having some fresh soil put about 

 their roots, and by having the roots covered with soil where bare, as 

 they do not thrive well if the roots are exposed to the air. 



The cost of planting hedges on the surface will stand as follows, under 

 ordinary circumstances : 



Per yard. 



Labour, Ijd. 



Cost of plants, Id. 



Besides the foregoing description of planting young hedges, the 

 following points ought to be attended to in dealing with them : 



1st, In trenching the site for the hedge, see that the soil along the 

 whole line is equally good ; if not, some portion of it will grow faster 

 than others, and thus make the hedge unequal. When it is found 

 necessary to improve any portion of the soil along the line of hedge, 

 good soil should be carted to it. Good loam or road-scrapings will do 

 well, care being taken that, where fresh soil is added, it should be well 

 mixed with the original soil in the trench. 



2d, Eather cart good soil to improve the bed for the plants than put 

 in any manure. I have found that both thorn and beech plants will 

 grow better with the former than with the latter. 



3d, Where the soil is naturally strong and retentive, and where it 

 contains a large amount of vegetable matter, it is a good plan to mix 

 a moderate quantity of lime with it. Lime will make a stiff soil 

 more porous, and assist in decomposing the vegetable matter in it, and 

 thus be the means of making the plants grow quicker than they would 

 without it. 



4th, Plant the young hedges in the month of November, the begin- 

 ning of December, or in the month of February and beginning of March. 



We will suppose that a young hedge has been planted in the way 



