144 ON RAISING AND MANAGING HEDGES. 
than the common hawthorn or quick, and when manure is 
well incorporated with the ground before the plants are 
inserted, it acts the more readily. 
Planting, etc—The proper time for planting generally 
depends on the nature of the soil. It is to be recommended 
that all dry soils should be planted before winter, or early in 
spring. Few plants break into leaf earlier than the common 
hawthorn, and in all cases its early insertion gives it the most 
vigorous start during the ensuing summer. Whatever species 
of plants are employed, they should all be planted erect. 
When they are inserted into their places in the notch, well- 
rotted manure should be applied, mixed up with the soil 
placed at the roots of the plants to a breadth of about two 
feet, unless the ground has been previously enriched. 
Laying plants in a horizontal position, on the brink of a 
mound, always retards the growth, prevents the future appli- 
cation of manure, and in some measure deprives them when 
young of the genial influence imparted by showers; and 
although by this method the ditch and mounds nearly form 
a fence at the outset, and render the strength of a hedge less 
requisite, yet the plants commonly require to be protected by 
paling, and during my experience, I never found plants so 
treated keep pace for two years with those planted perpen- 
dicularly. 
Where the soil is very damp it should be drained, and the 
site of the hedge being trenched in the manner pointed out, 
should be made up to a sufficient height, according to the 
species of the plant intended. Where dry, it should be raised. 
on each side of the plants, so as to leave them less exposed. 
Having thus prepared the ground, stretch a line along the 
ridge where the hedge is intended, and cut out a notch close 
to it, of sufficient depth to contain the roots of the plants. 
Prune the extreme fibres of their roots, and place the plants 
at their proper distances against the notch. They will then 
stand straight, with their roots inclined to that side of the 
line on which they were planted, it being observed, that 
although no ditch is made in the meantime, yet it is contem- 
