PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 359 



which have not sufficient strength to resist a moderately sized 

 bullock, when one properly grown for strength and closeness 

 would bid defiance to an elephant. 



When a hedge is topped the sap that would have gone to 

 increase its head being suddenly stopped in its ascent, forces out 

 innumerable shoots all around the stem, immediately below the 

 place where it was cut, these draw the sap so powerfully through 

 their capillary tubes that they occasion such a deep shade below 

 them that all the horizontal shoots which had sprung out from 

 the stem, near the roots, being deprived of their nourishment, 

 and the genial influences of the atmosphere, are checked in their 

 growth, and in a very short time totally perish, leaving the stem 

 at the root quite bare. And as there are, from that period, no 

 branches springing immediately from the under part of the stem 

 to detain the sap in its passage, and make that part of it increase 

 in size, it there continues small and weakly, while the top, con- 

 tinuing to advance with luxuriance, becomes so large and weighty 

 as to be with difficulty supported by these small trunks, which 

 gradually become barer every year, until the bottom is quite 

 open, when the hedge is of no further value. But if a hedge is 

 allowed to advance in height, without being cut in at the top, 

 the small branches that spring out near the root, not being 

 starved by the extraordinary suction, or suffocated by the shade 

 of too luxuriant branches above them, continue to live, and de- 

 tain a portion of the sap so as to make the under part of the 

 stem increase in size and strength, and be well able to support the 

 small top that it thus acquires. And if the most luxuriant 

 side branches that may spring out above, are, from time to time, 

 pruned away, so as not to be permitted to overshade those below, 

 these last will continue to grow as long as the hedge lasts. Let 

 your aim be to make the principal stems advance with great vigor, 

 gradually tapering from the root upwards, because upon this the 

 whole future strength of the hedge depends ; and if these are 

 once rightly formed, it will be an easy matter to give the fence 

 every quality that could be wished. For if these strong stems 

 should be entirely destitute of small branches, an abundance of 

 them may be made to push out by only making a slight wound in 

 *the naked stem, wherever you desire that young branches should 

 appear, for below every such wound a number of small shoots 

 will spring forth the following season ; the points of which being 

 cut off a still greater number of small twigs will be sent out, 



