SECTION XIII. 



479 



And there is another difficulty almost as great — viz., to discover some 

 plant, or plants, together with the method of planting them, by which 

 gaps or deficiences in old hedges, even in the best land, may be filled up; 

 where the hedges have nearly decayed through neglect or ill usage, or 

 where they have exhausted the pabulum allotted to them. By an atten- 

 tive application and management of the Beech, I have reason to believe 

 that both of these desiderata have been completely supplied. Hedges in 

 my possession, on land worth not more than 7s. or 8s. per acre, are seen to 

 grow singularly close and vigorous ; and others, which were in the worst 

 possible condition, have by this means been restored to a healthy and fen- 

 cible condition, so as, within three years, to turn the Highland bullock, 

 (Scottice Stot,) by making them completely impervious to his eye : for 

 a Highland Stot, unless driven, will rarely break down what he cannot 

 see through ; although the reverse of this is the fact as to the Highland 

 sheep. In a word, I consider the introduction of the Beech into field 

 hedges as the most important improvement that has been made for a 

 century on this branch of rural economy. But to give any idea of its 

 various application and particular management would require a separate 

 Essay. 



I have reason to think that the art of mixing the Beech with the 

 Thorn in common field hedges originated with myself. Wherever it 

 has been found, it could always be traced with certainty to LanarTcsMre. 

 At first it was adopted by my neighbours, from my practice in this 

 country. From thence it was carried to Ayrshire and Yorkshire, by the 

 late ingenious Mr White, the well-known landscape gardener, (to whom 

 the merit of spreading the knowledge of some of the most useful rural 

 arts is due,) and from thence all over Scotland, and the north of 

 England. 



That Beech hedges were currently raised in England, for parterres 

 and gardens, as far back as the time of Henry VIII., and further — that 

 is, in the beginning of the sixteenth century — can be distinctly proved 

 from our early writers. But I believe I am the first person who 

 mixed the Thorn with the Beech in hedges in th e open fields or applied 

 the practice to Agricultural purposes. Should it be claimed by any 

 other person, he should show that he practised it premoiisly to 1780 ; 

 as in that year I had about half a mile of mixed hedges executed ; and 

 before 1785 I had several miles. In a few years after, the whole estate 

 was enclosed with them. Should the honours of the improvement be 

 denied to me hereafter, I can only say, Sic ws 7ion vohis, S^c. 



In the course of a series of experiments, which I from that time com- 

 menced, on various plants for the improvement of hedges, I never found 

 any that were of much general use, the Beech excepted. The Horn- 



