68 



Fences and Hedges. 



[may, 



The white thorn {Cratcegus Oxycanthd) has been proved to be 

 the most useful plant for forming hedges as barriers against 

 stock. Its adaptability to situation and soil are important factors 

 in its favour, and in addition it possesses the all important 

 quality of resistance. The time it takes to rear a thorn hedge 

 depends (a) on the quality and preparation of the soil ; (b) 

 situation ; (c) the care that is exercised in keeping it clean ; 

 (d) protection from stock, and (e) the method adopted in train- 

 ing. Before laying out hedges there are many things which 

 ought to be considered. If the proposed fence is intended to 

 divide fields, or to serve as a boundary between estates, it is 

 nearly always advisable that it should be straight. Of course, 

 there are certain lines of division which cannot be altered, 

 such as streams serving as boundaries. The writer has several 

 times laid out fences between estates and, by mutual consent of 

 both landlords, a give-and-take line has been adopted. 



Reference has been made to injury caused by trees growing in 

 hedgerows, but when trees are planted in such a position, gaps 

 would bz less numerous if holly or beech were used underneath 

 the trees instead of thorn. Holly is preferable to beech for 

 hedges next to pastures. Further, hedgerow trees need to be 

 pruned early in life, cutting off the lower branches to nearly 

 one-third of the height of the tree, and foreshortening the lateral 

 growth, to give light to the crops and hedge below. 



The soil most suitable for the thorn is a strong loam. The 

 land must be thoroughly drained, and one way to carry off the 

 water from the fence is to run a pipe drain 5 ft. or 6 ft. from the 

 fence on both sides. Sometimes it may be only necessary to 

 attend to drains already in the ground. The conformation of 

 the ground does not always admit of the drains being run 

 parallel to the hedge, but the main point is to carry out the 

 work in the best way so as to keep the hedge dry. 



The ground having been drained, trenching operations can be 

 proceeded with, the bed being kept on the level. The raised 

 cam formerly so much employed is quite unnecessary in the 

 majority of cases, as the main object served is at the present 

 day fully met by the thorough system of drainage adopted. 

 In running through hollows where it is occasionally difficult to 

 thoroughly drain, the soil may be raised and a drain-pipe put 



