7o 



Fences and Hedges. 



[may, 



the soil line — that is, at the depth at which they stood in the 

 nursery row. Long or damaged roots should be neatly cut 

 back. There are some advantages in planting in double rows 

 instead of single, the rows being placed 8 in. or 9 in. apart, and 

 plants in the rows the same distance, and each plant dividing 

 the space between the two opposite. 



The thorn thus planted is given more room, and the result is 

 the production of strong lateral growth. If a double-rowed 

 thorn fence should in after years, through neglect, assume a 

 spreading habit, one of the rows may be cut off at the base 

 some years in advance of the other to encourage fresh growth ; 

 when strong enough to act as a fence, the other side may be 

 treated in the same way. Great care should be taken not to 

 allow a double-rowed hedge to become foul, for there is greater 

 difficulty in cleaning out the weeds. Having consolidated the 

 soil somewhat in the centre of the bed by treading, the opera- 

 tion of putting in the plants can be begun. It takes two men 

 •to put in the plants properly. After the first spadeful of soil 

 Is laid on the roots, the plant should be drawn lightly up and 

 down so as to cause the soil to run into the interstices formed by 

 the rootlets. The putting in of the thorn being completed, more 

 .soil is laid on the roots and carefully firmed round the stems, 

 finishing by drawing the soil to the plants, leaving them just 

 pointing the surface. 



There is another plan which has been adopted with con- 

 siderable success. The stems are left a little longer than is 

 advocated above, and the soil is made to cover the whole 

 of the plant, which is left in this condition until it shows 

 signs of vitality in the spring. The soil is then taken from 

 the plants to the depth of 3 in. or 4 in., forming a V, with 

 the plant in the middle. The shoots, it is said, come away 

 stronger, and are more numerous than they are when left stand- 

 ing above ground at the time of planting. 



The cost of trenching, purchasing plants, and planting, runs 

 from 4d. to 6d. per yard, the cost being principally affected by 

 the nature of the ground. Very often this is not the only- 

 expense to be met in putting in a quick fence. Protection 

 rails may have to be erected on one or both sides, and this 

 adds considerably to the initial outlay and up-keep. A three- 



