224- TREATISE on 



die dilTerence of expence between thofe of three and fix years old 

 is nothing, as, allowing the oldeft to be double the price, they 

 will go double the length. In unkindly foils, what I have here 

 faid, I know experimentally cannot be juftly refuted ; but it may 

 be returned, that fmall Thorns planted in good foil, at the fame 

 diftances they ought to ftand when older, will in time make 

 equally good hedges. This I muft grant ; but the difference of 

 expence can bear no proportion to the advantage of having a 

 good fence three or four years fooner, and faving the expence of 

 culture for that time, which for fmall plants is much greater 

 than large ones; fo tha.t in the main^I cannot think any circum- 

 fiance, but that very bad one of poverty, Ihould juftly excufe a 

 man who plants fmall Thorns, where large ones are to be had at 

 a moderate price. 



Th e fame rules diredled for training Thorns in the nurfery-^ 

 to be afterwards planted at the fizes of fencible hedges, are to be 

 continued progreflively, when planted out for good in the fields 

 ever after. 



If it is obje(f^ed, that I have excluded Thorns from being 

 planted in the banks above ditches, and yet diredled Sweet Briars 

 there,, to the reafons already given I fliall only add, that the 

 Sweet Briar is an exceeding hardy plant, and will fucceed in 

 many foils and fituations where Thorns will not ; and what is 

 more material in the prefent cafe, is, that being a dwarf light 

 £hrai?> they never arrive to fuch a fize or weight, as to be affedl- 

 ed by the v/inds in any degree that will in the leaft loofen or 

 ihake the banks, which is too frequently the cafe with Thorns, 



