1905.] 



Fences and Hedges. 



73 



danger of the plants getting damaged in attempting*] to get 

 out the weeds, and there is also a great loss of nutriment, to 

 say nothing of the soil thrown off with the weeds. Weeds 

 also harbour insect pests which may attack the fence. 

 The first cleaning should be done in spring, before any 

 seeding takes place. On land which is very weedy and 

 of a tenacious character, it is often found that, owing to the 

 great amount of cleaning necessary, the soil on the roots of 

 the plants becomes deficient. This is rarely experienced before 



Fig. 4. — Fully-Grown Hedge, with the Guard Fence Removed. 



the fence is of sufficient size to do without hand weeding, and 

 at this period the best thing to do is to add fresh soil by 

 scouring the fence, and to keep clean by cutting the weeds 

 down with a sickle twice annually, or oftener if required. 



The way in which hedges are trimmed determines both their 

 shape and stability. Dress with an upward stroke, make the 

 hedge wedge-shaped, and never be in haste to raise the hedge 

 to its full height ; these are rules which must be observed to 

 ensure success. Hedges which have been raised too rapidly 

 are often unable to act as a fence owing to the weakness and 

 looseness of growth. Fences which are trimmed regularly for 



