28] s A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



In the enclosure of wastes, most new fences are made with post 

 and rail, with a mound or bank of earth raised up near to the 

 lower rail, and a ditch sufficient to drain the land where the drain- 

 age is required ; in the inside of the bank, a little above the level 

 of the natural surface of the earth, is planted the quicksets, for 

 which purpose the white-thorn or hawthorn (cratcegus monogynia), 

 is very generally preferred. In thin soils it is best to dig a trench 

 two feet deep, taking out the under-stratum, and filling it up with 

 soil, to facilitate the growth of the quicksets. 



In planting fences on good soils, something better and more 

 profitable than the hawthorn might certainly be introduced. An 

 ingenious friend has suggested that if all hedges had been originally 

 of the most profitable plants, they would have produced time past 

 and to come beverage and materials for spirit to supply man- 

 kind, for fattening hogs, with materials for paying the expence 

 of renewing ; and all this with every advantage of the hedges 

 now in use. 



To effect this, he proposes to plant at regular distances in every 

 new fence a Spanish chesnut ; midway between the chesnuts plant a 

 crab, and between the chesnuts and crab, a common plum ; in the 

 intermediate spaces, white-thorn ; when they have been planted 

 three or four years, and are in a thriving state, cut them off in 

 February with a sharp knife just above the ground, to force out 

 many shoots, and clean them from weeds, leaving the handsome 

 straight plants for fruit : the chesnuts may be grafted with scions 

 from Spain, if such can be procured ; the crab stocks with apples ; 

 the plum shoots with plums of different kinds ; and the white-thorn 

 with medlars. Thus you will have a very productive orchard, with- 

 out any waste of land, and a permanent and durable fence. The 

 chesnuts would be excellent food for hogs or other cattle ; apples 

 every one knows the use of; and plums and medlars, if super- 

 abundant, would fatten hogs, or the juice might be converted into 

 spirit superior to malt spirit. He thinks the chesnut, the walnut, 

 and the beech, should be planted for their fruit ; tut the oak 

 should be preferred to the lime, the fir, the larch, and the poplar, 

 whose fruit is of no value. 



In a late account of Sicily, it is asserted that a large tree is 

 common there, called the Carubba tree, bearing a produce like a 

 large strong bean in the husk : it is grown to export, and for feeding 

 cattle. Its fruit is good feed for pigs, horses, and other animals. 

 A tree is said to bear two quintals (3501bs.) of this fruit : if it 

 would stand our climate it might be an acquisition. 



