F O R E S T - T R E E S. 



215 



to the height of two; or two and a half feet, as, from a favourable 

 or bad feafon, their flioots have been more or lefs vigorous, and 

 dip them as formerly. The ground having been of a good 

 quality, and properly cultivated, the third feafon, they will admit 

 of being cut at three and a half feet high about mid-fummer, 

 and raifed the following autumn, when they may be planted 

 handfome hedges about four feet high, that will at once afford 

 both pleafure and fhelter. 



But to bring them to the lafl degree of perfedion, let thefe 

 be once more removed with bulks of earth, which they will na- 

 turally have, if carefully and fkilfully raifed. For this purpofe, 

 let a trench on each lide be dug up confiderably deeper than the 

 fpreading roots, and, with a fharp hedge-bill, cut acrofs all the 

 downright ones, which, from the former tranfplantations and 

 proper dreflings, will not be many or ftrong ; but while this is 

 performing, let the plants be held fteady from the oppofite fide, 

 w:hich otherways, by fhaking, would occafion much of the earth 

 to moulder away. This being done, lay them foftly down on 

 one fide, and with a fharp knife fmooth the extremities of their 

 rxDOts, equally fhortening thofe that are downright or too fpread- 

 ing. Let ftraight trenches now be ready to receive them at 

 eight, or, where land can be fpared, ten feet afunder ; in thefe 

 trenches let them be placed the fame depth they formerly flood, 

 and at four feet diflance in the line, giving them an abundant 

 watering ; cultivate the ground about them, which may be 

 crop'd with various kitchen herbs, and here let them remain 

 three years, clipping, and in all fliapes drefTmg them to theii- 

 proper form, as if planted out for good. 



