22 



SITUATION, SOIL, 



[chap. 



the autumn after planting ; or they may be cut down the next 

 spring, and close to the ground. Each will then send up three or 

 four stout shoots. ' When these have grown through the summer, 

 take out any little weak shcots, close to the stem, and cut dow n 

 the stout ones w ithin three or four inches of the ground. Out of 

 these stems will come such quantities of shoots that the fence will 

 be complete in a very short time, and will only want trimming and 

 clipping. The w hole of the space between the tw^o row^s w ill be 

 filled up by the side shoots ; and the hedge w^ill be quite impassable 

 by any animal bigger, at any rate, than a rat or a cat ; and, besides 

 all the rest, the foliage is so very fine that even, as an ornament, 

 it W'Ould "be desirable to have it as a hedge. 



34. With regard to the height of this hedge, it might be six or 

 seven feet ; but not higher ; for, if too high, it would keep the sun 

 from part of the wall on the south side of the garden. If higher, 

 it w ould give more shelter, indeed ; but then this benefit would 

 be over-balanced by the injury done in the way of shade. By the 

 means of a hedge of» this sort, you not only secure the use of the 

 outsides of your walls ; but you obtain security for the produce 

 of the inside. For gardeners may scold as long and as vehe- 

 mently as they please, and law-makers may enact as long as they 

 please, mankind wdll never look upon taking fruit in an orchard, 

 or a garden, as felony, nor even as a serious trespass. Besides, 

 there are such things as hoys, and eveiy considerate man W'ill recol- 

 lect that he himself was once a boy. So that, if you have a mind 

 to have for your own exclusive use what you grow in your garden, 

 you must do one of tw^o things ; resort to terrors and punishments, 

 that will make you detested by your neighbours, or provide an 

 insurmountable fence. This prevents temptation, in all cases dan- 

 gerous, and particularly in that of forbidden fruit. Resolve, 

 therefore, to share the produce of your garden with the boys of 

 the w hole "neighbourhood ; or, to keep it for your owti use by a 

 fence that they cannot get through, over, or under. Six feet is no 

 great heiglit ; but in the way of fence, four feet of good thorn- 

 hedge will keep the boldest boy from trees loaded with fine ripe 

 peaches ; and, if it will do that, nothing further need be said in its 

 praise ! The height is nothing ; but, unless the assailant have 

 w ings, he must be content wdth feasting his eyes ; for, if he attempt 

 to climb, he receives the penalty upon the spot ; and if he retreats, . 

 as the fox did from the grapes, he gets pain of body in addition 



