16 FENCING AND 



Many different methods of fencing have been 

 adopted for the inclosing of young plantations 

 upon gentlemen's estates, and, no doubt, different 

 methods will still continue to be adopted, according 

 to the different sorts of materials to be had in 

 abundance in the neighbourhood of the plantation 

 to be constructed. 



Under the present head, it will be enough for 

 me to enumerate the principal sorts of fences, as in 

 common use in Scotland ; and, giving an idea of the 

 cost of raising these in each case, I shall leave it 

 to the discretion of the parties planting to judge 

 for themselves which sort of fence they may adopt, 

 which, of course, must be in most cases determined 

 according to the kind of material most conveniently 

 to be had. 



The first is the thorn hedge, wliich is a fence 

 well known throughout all Britain. This sort of 

 fence is very much improved by having one-third 

 of beech plants mixed among the thorns in planting, 

 particularly upon high situations with a light soil. 

 There the thorns are apt to die early, but when 

 mixed with beech plants, which thrive well in a 

 light soil, the fence is much improved, both in 

 health and appearance. 



The hedge is a fence well adapted for all situa^ 

 tions where a neat, cultivated, and clothed appear- 

 ance is the object, but is not to be recommended 

 for a soil of a mossy or sandy nature upon a high 



