FENCING. 163 



formed one, as in this case it requires several strokes to cut all the 

 twigs from bottom to top. This form is not well adapted for high- 

 lying districts where there are heavy falls of snow, as the snow lies 

 on the top of the hedge and is apt to break it down. This fence is 

 a stronger one than the other, and is serviceable where heavy bullocks 

 are pastured ; but, generally speaking, the wedge-shaped one is to be 

 preferred. 



Hedges are sometimes grown and formed in a perpendicular form, as 

 shown in fig. 41. It takes up little room, and does well to give shelter 



Fio. 40. Fro. 41. 



in a garden or pleasure-ground, but is not adapted for subdividing 

 fields. 



I next come to make a few remarks on the renewing and improving 

 of old hedges. There is a very great extent of old hedges throughout 

 England growing in a very bad and neglected state. They are allowed 

 to grow as they will for a number of years together, and when allowed 

 to get to a height of from ten to fourteen feet they are cut in a way 

 termed " slashing " that is to say, each stem is taken and cut half 

 over about six inches or a foot above the ground, as it may be wanted ; 

 this is bent over and laid along the line of fence and so on, each one 

 being cut over and laid above and alongside of others in line of the 

 fence. These are next bound together with stakes driven in about 

 eighteen inches apart, and bound together at the tops with long hazel 

 rods, or what are termed " yeathers." This is a thoroughly bad way 

 of treating hedges, and should never be done under any circum- 

 stances. Hedges thus treated never make a secure fence afterwards 

 without being constantly "staked and yeathered." The best way to 

 renew old hedges which have been neglected, or which have become 

 overgrown, as many are allowed to do so even when switched every 

 year, is to cut the branches close in to the stems^of the plant, as shown 

 in fig. 42. Each cut made, on the plants forming, and to the desired 

 height, the hedge will throw out a number of shoots, and in a few years 

 will have thoroughly renewed itself. 



