On Fences. 
215 
The Scotch call it the wedge shape. Five feet is the height to 
which a hedge should be kept throughout all arable lands ; for if 
allowed to become higher, it is unmanageable, and a source of 
great expense to keep in order. The width of a hedge should 
not in general exceed 3 feet at bottom, and in many cases 2 feet 
or 2J feet will be sufficient. In certain meadow grounds, where it 
is desirable that the hedge should afford continvial shelter to cattle 
pasturing, 6 or 7 feet in height may be allowable, as also an 
additional half foot, or even a foot in width. 
The Sloe — Prunus spinosa. 
23. This plant is by some called the Spring Plum ; by others, 
the Sloe Thorn ; but most generally it goes under the name of the 
Sloe, or Blackthorn. In situations where the soil is loamy and not 
overcharged with moisture, this shrub is found to answer very well 
for the purpose of fences. It grows rapidly, has formidable spines, 
and is very lasting. It has no claim tipon our attention, however, 
beyond the hawthorn, whilst it falls ' ery short of having all the 
recommendations applicable to that tree. The great fault of the 
sloe is its suckers, which it sends up in such profusion as to 
threaten the usurpation of whole fields in its neighbourhood. The 
plants should be invariably grown from seeds, in which case few or 
no suckers will rise from the roots. The fruit are ripe in October, 
when they should be gathered and laid in a heap, mixed with 
sand, in the open air, and turned over several times during vvinter 
until the pulp is decomposed. Advantage should be taken of open 
weather during January for the purpose of sowing them, Avhich 
should be done in beds, with a covering of an inch and a quarter 
in depth. When two years old they should be transplanted into 
rows to remain for one year, when they will be fit to be removed 
into hedge-lines as recommended for the hawthorn, to which refer- 
ence is made for all necessary instructions. The sloe being deci- 
duous, it is to be planted chiefly to divide arable fields. 
The Crab, or Wild Apple — Pyrus malus. 
24. When strong plants of this tree are used, they will form a 
fence even in a shorter time than the hawthorn. They should be 
selected of six or seven years' age, the tops cut off to withiq four 
