212 
On Fences. 
The foregoing will be found to be applicable to the generality 
of situations throughout the country; but in districts where game 
is plentiful it is necessary to protect with wattled, or what are 
usually termed wicker hurdles, which are closely woven with 
branches, and are sold in most cases for 8s. per dozen. Hares 
and rabbits are very destructive to young hedges, and where they 
abound the precaution recommended should be at once adopted. 
In the course of two years those hurdles may be removed, and if 
cattle are to be pastured near to the hedge, a more durable fence 
substituted. Those hurdles are made about 6 feet long, so that 
for a double fence six of them will be required in a perch. As 
already observed, they are closely woven, and quite sufficient to 
protect a hedge from all descriptions of game ; but in inserting 
them many workmen thoughtlessly force their feet between the 
weft or horizontal branches of the hurdle, in order that by their 
weight they may the more readily force it into the ground. The 
open space thus left by the action of the feet is sufficient to admit 
hares and rabbits, so that the practice is on this account highly 
objectionable. A mallet applied to the upright parts of the hurdle 
is sufficient to fix it without any other means. The expense per 
perch with this sort of protection will be : — 
Trenching, &c. as before . . .1*. Od. 
6 hurdles . . . . . .40 
Labour in setting them up . . .02 
5 2 
21. Cleaning. — When ahedge is planted, it should have the full 
benefit of the soil, and no weeds should be allowed to grow. 
Weeds rob the soil of its nourishment, choke the young plants, 
and prevent the rains from getting at their roots. The bottom of 
the hedge should be regvilarly hoed with a common hoe (for slo- 
venly gardeners with a Dutch hoe leave half of the weeds around 
the stems of the plants), and the weeds raked off as soon as the 
hoeing is completed. There is no operation performed so abo- 
minably throughout England as that of hoeing. Whether it be 
turnips, cabbages, or hedge-bottoms, the same slovenly uniformity 
is observable throughout ; and I almost despair of ever seeing this 
necessary work executed so well as it ought to be. The Scotch, 
who rather excel in forming hedge-fences, very much neglect the 
cleaning department. The English, again, clean not at all ; for as 
already stated (14), the weeds and herbage, according to the 
present system, form a part of the hedge, and if they were regu- 
larly removed, the fence would be in danger of falling to pieces; 
It is impossible to lay down rules as to the periods when the 
hoeing and raking should be performed : it may be mentioned, 
