On Fences. 
213 
however, that so soon as the weeds appear they should be de- 
stroyed, and the timely execution of this work will save a great 
deal of expense and trouble. Nothing in the whole circle of gar- 
dening or agriciJture has a better appearance than neatly kept 
hedje-bottoms, and nothing more bespeaks prevailing order 
throughout a garden, a farm, or an estate. Ivy and honeysuckle 
are to be treated in this case as weeds, and should be wholly era- 
dicated. They overcome, and ultimately smother, all hedge-plants 
within their reach. 
'22. Pruning or trimming. — A hedge should not be pruned till 
the end of the third year, when it will require to be shaped and 
moulded to a certain degree of uniformity. The branches and 
leaves should be left untouched for this period, in order to 
strengthen the stems. Xo hedge can have strong stems unless 
the branches from those stems are allowed to grow^ and the leaves 
on those branches to elaborate the sap fit for the support of the 
plant. This assertion is abundantly proved by every plant in a 
hedge which is allowed to shoot up into a tree ; such plants in the 
course of a few years having stems many times thicker than any 
of the others which are reoTilarly shorn of their foliage. In trim- 
ming the hawthorn, the hedge-shears should be discarded alto- 
gether, for they do not make a clean cut, and it is besides a 
tedious, and consequently an expensive method. The only im- 
plement which expert hedgers use is the hedge-bill, of which there 
are several varieties ; and it is astonishing what beautiful work a 
dexterous hand executes with this tool. I annex a complete set 
of hedging-bills, or hooks, two of which are required in those cases 
only where the fence is allowed to fall into disorder, or wherever an 
old fence, as at present constituted, has to be remodelled so as to 
resemble as much as possible the modern improved fence. Xo. 
1 represents a powerful tool used generally in cutting roots or 
strong stems near to the surface of the soil. No. 2 is also used 
for cutting strong branches in an upright direction. No. 3 is of a 
lighter description, and is emploved in switching, brushing, or 
cutting off branches which have been allowed to remain on the 
hedge for two or more years. No. 4 is a powerful tool used for 
similar purposes as I and 2, and merely preferred by some work- 
men to those with longer handles. No. 5 is the stout reap hook 
extensively used by the farmers of Norfolk for topping and trim- 
