ON RAISING AND MANAGING HEDGES. 153 
the line where the hedge is to be planted, facing it up with 
stones to the height of from two to three feet, and planting 
the hedge about eighteen inches back from and alongside 
of the mason work. The two surfaces of good soil form a 
mound above the ordinary level of the adjoining ground, and, 
supported by the stone facing, afford ample drainage; and 
these advantages of position, soil, and drainage, commonly 
yield an efficient fence at an early date. 
Cleaning, Manuring, and Pruning.—It is well known to all 
who have had experience in rearing hedges, that the first and 
most important point is to have the ground thoroughly cleaned, 
and that this should be carefully attended to in so far as 
rooted weeds exist in the ground before the plants are in- 
serted. A hedge for the first three years requires to be 
cleaned by hoeing on each side and hand-weeding close to the 
plants. During this period no agricultural crop should be 
allowed to grow within four feet of the plants. After a 
hedge has been three years planted, it should be manured 
on both sides, in all parts where it is not thoroughly 
vigorous; the manure should be well made or decomposed, 
and immediately dug in on being spread. The steel fork is 
more suitable for this purpose than a spade, as it is less liable 
to injure the roots. The best season for manuring and 
digging is in autumn or in open weather throughout the 
winter, and the influence of manure is not more apparent on 
any plant than on the hawthorn. 
Pruning should begin three years after planting, or if the 
young hedge is very vigorous, after two years’ growth. The 
most approved figure, and that most easily kept, is wedge- 
shaped—broad at the base and tapering to a point at the top. 
But for ornamental purposes the figures may be diversified. 
The autumn or the months of winter are the usual time for 
pruning hedges, but a second pruning at midsummer has the 
effect of increasing their closeness. When young hedges are 
apt to get bare or thin near the ground and show a vigour at 
the top, it is advisable to prune the upper half only, once or 
twice during the summer months. This has the effect of direct- 
