HEDGSS. 



157 



each plant being five iiiclies apart. The residue were 

 planted in a nursery, for the purpose of filling vacancies. 



The hedge-course was made in sandy land, ploughed of 

 the width of four feet, and manured and prepared precisely as 

 for Indian corn ; except, only, that, after ploughing, the cen- 

 tre, for two feet wide, was turned over with the spade, and 

 the hedge planted without further preparation. Mr. Quin- 

 cy advises to the following course : — " Plough the hedge- 

 course six feet wide. Plant the whole course one year to 

 potatoes. This pays for the labour as much as other land 

 thus planted. Set the thorns eight inches apart. This is 

 near enough in a country like this, where hogs are not per- 

 mitted to run at large, and makes a considerable saving in 

 labour as w^ell as the cost of the plants. Keep both sides 

 of the hedge planted with potatoes, during the whole six 

 years that the hedge is coming to perfection. The potatoes 

 will nearly pay the cost of the labour. The manure for the 

 potatoes benefits the hedge; and, while hoeing the pota- 

 toes, keeping the hedge clear of w^eeds is easy. 



To keep the hedge clear of weeds, and to fill up the 

 vacancies regularly in the spring of every year, with plants 

 of the same age v/ith those of the original hedge, are the 

 two essential objects of attention after the hedge-course i? 

 prepared, and the plants are set. Younger plants ma^ 

 answer, but whoever would make a hedge, in the most 

 speedy and perfect manner, ought to procure, at the time 

 of obtaining the plants for the original hedge, a sufficient 

 extra number to supply all deficiencies likely to occur dur- 

 ing the whole time the hedge is forming ; to be kept at a 

 nursery, thriving, if possible, a little better than those in the 

 hedge-course." 



With respect to the age at which plants for hedges ought 

 to be used, Loudon says, " Three years old are certainly 

 the youngest that should be transplanted, and if they are 

 six or seven ynars old, so much the better; the prevailing 

 idea that plants of that age will not thrive, if transplanted, 

 IS totally unfounded." He likewise recommends assorting 

 the plants, and setting those together which are nearly of a 

 size ; because, when no pains have been taken in assort- 

 ing the plants, and they are planted promiscuously, great 

 and small, strong and weak, the consequence is, that the 

 strongest plants very soon outgrow such as are weaker, 

 and not only overtop them, but also deprive them of that 

 nourishment which they so much require. As the hedge 

 advai:^ces in age, the evil becomes greater; small, stunted 



