XVII. 
HEDGES. 
ON RAISING AND MANAGING HEDGES, AND ON KINDS OF LIVE 
FENCES SUITED TO DIFFERENCE OF SOIL, CLIMATE, AND 
MODES OF OCCUPATION. 
Few improvements enrich the general appearance of a 
country, or increase the value of property more, than hedges, 
provided they are properly managed. The preparation of the 
ground is the first important point. It should be trenched, 
if practicable, to the depth of from 20 to 24 inches, and 4 feet 
in breadth, with the surface placed in the bottom, and 18 
inches of breadth of surface added to it from each side of the 
trench, care being taken that the ground from the surface be 
covered with at least 14 inches of clean soil, which will pre- 
vent the weeds from vegetating. The additional surface will 
raise the trenched part considerably higher than the former 
level of the ground. When the subsoil is of inferior quality, 
it does least injury when turned uppermost; but where 
gravel, sand, or any inferior subsoils are found in large quan- 
tities they ought to be removed, and the space filled up with 
“soil of good quality. This preparatory process should be per- 
formed in autumn, that the frosts of winter may pulverize the 
soil. Some subsoils, such as stiff clay, bog earth, or whatever 
does not readily become pulverized, are unfavourable to the 
growth of plants, and should therefore be exposed to the 
influence of the atmosphere for a year before being planted, 
during which period the ground should be dug or forked over 
once or twice, giving at same time a liberal supply of manure. 
No plant advances more rapidly under the influence of manure 
