66 



Fences and Hedges. 



[may, 



land has been laid down to grass, and in many cases several 

 fields have been laid together. A division fence being no longer 

 required, the thorn has been allowed to assume a tree-like form 

 for the purpose of shelter, and the hedges as far as up-keep 

 is concerned have been ignored. The desire for shelter is 

 frequently the cause of thorn fences being entirely ruined, even 

 when an attempt is made at repairs with the object of retain- 

 ing the division fence. The thorn being a light-demanding 

 plant, when allowed to grow tall very soon loses its bottom 

 growth through being shaded by the spreading top growth. 

 Having lost its bottom growth, it no longer acts as a fence, and 

 in this condition gives cattle and sheep easy access to the bare 

 stems, and what with rubbing the thorns, and the treading away 

 of the soil by the animals, a considerable amount of damage 

 is done, and much staking up is necessary to make the fence 

 useful against stock. 



These ill-effects are noticeable in badly switched or dressed 

 fences. When fences are switched every year with little or no 

 attention as to how they are cut or the proper shape they ought 

 to assume, the growth at the base is entirely ruined or severely 

 checked by an ill-shaped, top-heavy hedge. Another cause of 

 badly-grown fences is the want of proper protection to fences 

 newly cut and layered. They ought to be protected for at least 

 three years, and be kept free from weeds. 



In the letting of farms a clause is often inserted in the agree- 

 ment to the effect that the tenant after having had the fences 

 handed over to him in proper condition must undertake to 

 manage the same in such a manner that when he leaves the farm 

 they may be found in the same state as when he entered. During 

 the last fifteen or twenty years, however, farming has not been 

 very profitable, and frequently the landlord has not compelled the 

 tenant to fulfil the agreement respecting the up-keep of fences. 

 The law affecting fences has also a connection with their bad 

 condition. The many bad boundary hedges to arable land bear 

 witness to this, where, a good fence not being absolutely neces- 

 sary, the neighbouring farmer has to fence against his own 

 stock. Again, as a tenant's interest in his fences ceases when 

 he leaves the farm, he does not as a rule pay such attention to 

 the up-keep of the hedges as is necessary for their welfare. In 



