484 THE PLEASURE GARDEN. {[APR. 



Some content themselves with clipping but once 

 a-year, in which case, the end of July or first of 

 August is a better time. 



In trimming these, or indeed any hedge intended 

 as a close fence, they should be dressed up to a thin 

 edge at top, as otherwise they are apt to get full of 

 gaps below ; and the cause is obviously, that the 

 under part, in square-cut hedges, is too much sha- 

 ded by the upper part. Now, by sloping the sides, 

 every part of the hedge is freely exposed to the 

 air, nor is any part overdropped by another. A 

 hedge, intended merely as a fence, need seldom be 

 more than five feet high, or at most six. Screen 

 hedges may be allowed to run to any height thought 

 necessary for that purpose, neither is it requisite to 

 trim them so often as fence hedges ; once a-year, or 

 in two years, may be sufficient. 



In the training of any hedge, it should not be 

 topped or shortened until it have arrived at a full 

 yard in height ; but it may then have a little taken 

 off the points, in order to make it bush the better, 

 and shoot of a more regular height afterwards. 

 The sides, however, should be trimmed from the 

 second or third year of planting, that it may grow 

 the more complete, and close below; for therein con- 

 sists the excellence of any fence. It should not, in 

 topping at any time, while in training, be much cut 

 in ; as that would make it push the stronger at top, 

 to the detriment of the sides. When fence hedges 

 outgrow their limits, they must of course be cut ei- 

 ther wholly, or partly down j but if they be toler- 



