F O R E S T - T R E E S. 219 



the reafons for which are too apparent to require further explan- 

 ation. I have never feen hedges, growing for a number of years 

 rude, that were either warm in winter, or clofe at bottom, which 

 proceeds from a v-ery natural caufe. The Thorn tree, when lui- 

 der no difcipline, grows in a loofe ragged manner, with heavy 

 and fpreading tops, which, for want of air and moiflure, deftroy 

 many of the under branches, and when planted in loofe or wet 

 lands, the winter winds difplace and disfigure them extremely ; 

 fo that, all circumftances confidered, I could never difcover any 

 well-founded argument againft clipping them but the expence, 

 which, if annually done af cer a proper manner, in the mionths of 

 July and Auguft, will be fmall in proportion to the pleafure and. 

 benefit you will otherways derive from them. 



Digging and keeping clean a border on each fide of your 

 hedges, at leaft for a few years, will alfo be well-beftowed la- 

 bour, as it will mush accelerate their growth, and contribute to 

 their fpeedily thickening at bottom.. 



Many inaprovements may likewife furely be made on com- 

 mon pradice, in the difpofition and manner of planting our 

 young Thorn hedges. Some lands indeed are fo thin and mcigre 

 as not to produce tolerable fences without a greater deptli o± loil, 

 but hardly any are fo bad (very wet grounds excepted) as net 

 to nourifii Thorns in fuch a degree as to become fencible, by an 

 addition of foil, though of the lame quality, well blended toge- 

 ther, and expofed to the finnmer's fun and winter's froft. 



Without proceeding immediately, however, on this fubjcd:, 

 I.caiinot help taking notice, that the common method of laying^ 



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