a8 a Vifcottrfe of Foreft-Trees. 



your bank to its intended height. The diftances of the ploKfs 

 would not be above one foot -^ and the feafon to do the work in 

 may be from the entry of February till the end of March ; or 

 elfe in September^to the beginning of December. 



When 'this is finifti'd, you muft guard both the top of your 

 Ba»k^and ontmoft verge of your Ditch with a fufficient dry-bedpt^ 

 interwoven from^«4« to Jiake into the earth (which commonly 

 they do on the bank) to fecure your ^ick. from the fpoil of Cat- 

 tle. And then being careful to repair fuch as decay, or do not 

 fpring5by fuppling the dead, and trimming the reft ^ you (hall af- 

 ter three ^e^rj- growth Iprinkle fome Tiatber-trees amongd them ^ 

 fuch as 0^)^, Beech^Ajlj^ Maple, Fruity or the like 5 which being 

 drawn young out of your Nurferies ^ may be very eafily in- 

 ferred. 



But that which we affirm'd to require the greateft dexterity in 

 this work, is the artificial/'/^Jz«g of our Hedge when it b now ar- 

 riv'd to aj/x or feven years head. 



In February therefore, or O&ober, with a very fharp Biff cut 

 away all fuperfluous fprays and Jiraglers which may hinder your 

 progrefs, and are ufelefs. Then fearching out the principal_/r<;«?/, 

 with a keen and light Hatchet cut them Jlant-vpjfe about three 

 quarters through, and fb lay it from you Jlopwg as you go, fold- 

 ing in the lefler branches which fpring from them ; and ever with- 

 in a five, or fix foot diftance, where you find an upright Je* (cut- 

 ting off only the top to the height of your intended hedge) let it 

 fland as ajiake to fortifie your work, and to receive the twimngt 

 of thofe branches about it. Laftly, at the top (which would be 

 about five foot above ground) take the longeft, moft flenderand 

 flexible twigs which you refer ved (and being cut as the former 

 where need requires) bind in the extremities of all the reft, and 

 thus your workxs finifh'd : This being done very clofe, and thick, 

 makes an impregnable Hedge, in few years ; for it may be repeat- 

 ed as you fee occafion , and what you fo cut away will help to 

 make your dry-hedges for your young Plantations, or be profita- 

 ble for the Oven, and make good Bavin. 



9. The Pyracanth, Paliitrus, and like pretiofer forts of Ti?i^r«c 

 might eafily be propagated into plenty fufficient to ftore even 

 thefe vulgar Vjes were Men induftrious 5 and then how beautiful, 

 ana fweet would the environs of our Fields be ? for there are 

 none of the (pinouf fiorubs more hardy, nor fitter for our defence. 

 Thus might Berberies now and then be alfb inferred among our 

 hedges, which with the Hips, Hares, and Cornel-berries, do well in 

 light lands, and would rather be planted to the South then North, 

 or fVeif, as ufually we oblerve them. 



10. Some mingle their very hedges with Oaklings, Ap,^r\d Fruit- 

 trees fown, or planted, and 'tis a laudable improvement. 



1 1. In Cornwall they fecure their Lands and Woods with high 

 Mounds, and on them they plant Acorns whofe roots bind in the 

 loo fer mould, and fo form a double, and moft durable Fc«cc, in- 

 circling the Fields with a Coronet of Trees. They do likewife 



(and 



