F D R E S T - T R E E S. 223 



about three feet below the level of its top, which is allowing a 

 foot of forced foil above the furface, for a border to receive the 

 Thorns. This border {hould be at leaft two feet broad within 

 the hedge, and made hollow, the better to retain the moifture. 

 On this plant your Thorns in thicknefs proportioned to the fize 

 of your plants ; for the common run of Thorns three or four 

 years old, fix inches diftance is the general rule, but for flout 

 ones that have been twice removed, and confequently have a- 

 bundance of roots, a foot will be clofe enough. Thefe Thorns 

 ought not to be planted upright, but fhould be laid as near as 

 may be in a horizontal poiition, fo that the top of the one extend 

 as far, and be jufl above the root of the other. This method of 

 planting, in place of a few vigorous rambling fhoots from the top 

 of the plant, which is ufually the cafe with fuch as are planted 

 perpendicular, will make them brufh from the bottom like a fan, 

 and in two years, by keeping them as has been diredled, they will 

 be fo clofe that a fmall bird cannot get through them. But let it 

 be obferved, I do not mean this to be pracftifed in the nurfery, nor 

 even in the field, for fuch as are above fix or feven years old, or 

 that are planted above the height of two, or two and a half feet 

 high, as this oblique pofition, in large brufliy plants, will not 

 admit of their roots having the fame flability to refifl the winds 

 as thofe placed upright. 



The different fizes of Thorns, to procure fencible hedges 

 fooner or later, has already been mentioned ; and it muft be left 

 to every man to judge for himfelf, what money or labour he 

 chufes to beftow : Therefore I iliall only fay, that an old Thorn is 

 hardier than a young one, and will fucceai in coarfe obflinate 

 grounds, where the other will perifla ; to wdiich I may add, that 



