P O R E S T - T R E E S. 229 



I can devife, and which I have often fuccefsfully pradlifed for old 

 overgrown Thorn-hedges, is to prune them clofe to their bodies, 

 and cut them over fmooth, a good deal flanting, to the height of 

 about four feet, and fupply the gaps with old Hollies, if to be 

 had, or, failing thofe, with ftrong plants of Sweet Briar, both 

 of which ought to be divefted of great part of their branches, 

 which will make them pulh out a greater number of young ones 

 more vigoroufly, rehft the winds, and fooner become ftrong 

 equal fences. 



In fupplying thefe vacancies, however, a little extraordinary 

 labour and attention muft be bellowed, by cutting down the 

 roots of the old Thorns with a pick-ax, afterwards fmoothing 

 them with a hedge-bill, and making the hole as large and deep 

 as the fpaces will pollibly allow them to be ; to which, if frefh foil 

 is added in place of the exhaufted earth taken out, your greater 

 fuccefs, from faving time by more liberal fhoots, will largely 

 repay the expence. 



To defcribe the various methods that have been pra(5lifed 

 by inclofing grounds with hedges and ditches, would be both 

 tedious and unneceffary ; nor would it be difficult to direct a yet 

 greater variety of ways hitherto unpradlifed, further than from 

 making experiments, many of which I have tried ; but the few 

 rules here recommended, as they are the moft natural and fim- 

 ple, fo I have ever found them the moft fuccefsful, and believe 

 faying more on the fubjed: would be fuperfluous. 



Th e following thirteen kinds of Thorns are worthy of being 

 cultivated in all good colledions of flowering plants, where, 



