152 ON RAISING AND MANAGING HEDGES. 
removed, at which time the plants will have become a fence. 
In forming the ditch along a straight hedge, a line should be 
extended about eighteen incbes from the stems of the plant, 
which line forms the side of the ditch next the fence, and this 
side requires to be considerably sloped. Where the soil is dry 
and friable, the side of the ditch will be more oblique than 
where it is firm; consequently the ditch must be wider. In 
some situations by road-sides, only a small trench is formed, 
about two and a half feet wide at top, one and a half deep, and 
one foot broad at bottom ; but a ditch of a common size is four 
and a half feet wide, two and a half feet deep, and one foot 
and a half wide at bottom. In forming these, the greater part 
of the earth is cast over to the opposite side of the hedge, 
which is commonly about four feet high. It is therefore neces- 
sary for the person who finishes the bottom of the ditch to 
cast up the earth on the surface, while another turns it over 
to the opposite side of the hédge, placing a part between the 
hedge and the ditch, and raising it to the depth of five or six 
inches. In this way any vacancy may be filled up by fixing 
the adjacent branches into the soil. The ground thus trans- 
ferred is made high along the side of the hedge, and sloped 
down inte the field, which prevents the hedge from impoverish- 
ing the soil or injuring the crops. 
Fences for Protection of Hedges—The most judicious mode of 
protecting young hedges depends on the resources of the dis- 
trict in which they are situated. It is therefore unnecessary 
to enlarge on this subject. Where thinnings of plantations 
or heavier timber abound, wooden paling should be adopted, 
and the figure or description of the erection will depend on 
the kind of wood available. The smallest thinnings of larch 
and fir plantations are suitable for upright fences, and larger 
timber for horizontal rails. The cost varies much in different 
localities. Where timber is scarce, recourse should be had to 
wire fencing. 
Sunk Dikes.—In forming a hedge and sunk fence there is 
no method more effectual, where suitable stones are at hand, 
than to cut out a ditch, casting up the best soil to one side, on 
