On Fences. 
1 3. The preparation of the soil is perhaps the most important pro- 
cess connected with hedge fencing, though it is one which is the least 
of all attended to. Nothing can repay the planter more satisfactorily 
than the previous management of the land, and I have adopted 
it as a rule whenever called upon to form a fence, if the proprie- 
tor should object to go to the expense of having the land trenched 
at least to the depth of two feet, and well manured, to decline the 
undertaking altogether. Tliis trenching and manuring I hold to 
be neces-;ary under all circumstances, whether the " hedge and 
ditch" form be adopted or the sets planted on the level surface of 
the ground, or on a slope. If practicable, the land should be 
trenched several months before the time of planting, and immedi- 
ately manured, so that the manure and the soil may be completely 
incorporated when the trench is opened up for the reception of the 
plants. The trench should be at least two feet and a half in width. 
It is delightful to witness the vigour and rapidity of growth which 
a hedge will assume after the soil is prepared in this way, the 
plants generally maintaining an uniformity of action such as an 
iinprepared bed never displays. It is the grossest thoughtlessness 
to suppose that the hawthorn, any more than wheat or turnips, will 
rise luxuriantly unless excited by the richness of the soil, either 
naturally, or by the application of artificial means. Amongst other 
advantages, I may mention that well-prepared soil, compared with 
that which has not been manured, will save all the expense of 
protecting the fence for about two years, an item which must be 
very heavy in districts where young fir poles are scarce. Hence 
the necessity of commencing the work in a proper and reasonable 
way. 
14. The construction of the bed where the plants are placed is of 
essential importance, and ought to be regulated by local circum- 
stances. If, for instance, the soil be dry, a ditch will not be re- 
quired to drain the land ; but if wood to protect the fence cannot 
be had, of course a ditch becomes necessary. If the soil, again, 
has too much moisture, a ditch is to be preferred even in cases 
where wood is plentiful. The mode in which the sites for hedges 
are formed at present throughout England is in many cases highly 
objectionable. What is called the " hedge and ditch plan" is one 
of the best, though in many cases imperfectly executed. It is 
effected by digging out a ditch parallel to the line on which it is 
intended to place the fence, five feet in width at top, three feet in 
depth, and one foot wide at bottom : the soil out of this channel is 
thrown upon that side where the hedge is to be planted, thus form- 
ing a sort of ridge for the plants to grow on. Now, with regard 
to this plan it is to be observed that it is advantageous only either 
in soils which have too nmch moisture, or wherever wood for 
paling to protect the hedge cannot be procured conveniently. This 
