222 
On Fences. 
land as for a protection to the hedge. In fencing such land, then, 
let a ditch be dug out on the field side as already detailed (14), 
5 feet in width at top, 3 feet in depth, and 1 foot wide at bottom: 
the soil from the ditch is to be thrown over the line intended for 
the hedge (not as a bank on which to plant it, as is usually done, 
but for a fence to it), and the hedge itself is to be planted parallel 
with the ditch at about 9 inches from the edge of it. With regard 
to this tree, it may be stated that in tlie colder and more exposed 
tracts of arable and pasture lands, as well as on those which are 
loo damp for the hawthorn, it is better adapted than any other 
tree. Thus it becomes on the one hand a link between the haw- 
thorn and the furze, and on the other between the hawthorn and 
the willow, poplar, &c. In order to give a higher degree of 
rigidity to a beech fence I have in several instances planted a 
double line of plants, and I have no doubt that this plan will 
obviate the defect alluded to, but as yet my hedges have not been 
long enough planted to prove this position. Between the parallel 
lines I leave a space of 18 inches, so that the stems of the plants 
when grown up form a sort of strong framework on either side, 
which I am persuaded no description of cattle will be able to 
break through. Between each plant in the lines a space of 15 
inches should be left ; and, as pointed out with regard to every 
other tree, no weeds should be allowed to rise amongst the plants 
or near to them. The time to clip is the month of October, and 
the form to which hedges of this description should be moulded is 
the same as that recommended in the case of the hawthorn. From 
the facility with which it may be reared, its quickness of growth, 
and the valuable protection it aftbrds to cattle in pasture lands, 
this tree certainly deserves to be planted more universally than it 
has hitbeito been. From the nature of the young shoots the 
hedge-bill cannot be advantageously employed in trimming the 
beech ; yet it may be remarked that no tree so well repays the 
expense of clipping, for during summer time it is of all others the 
most ornamental. 
The Hornbeam — Carpinns betulus. * 
The Elm — Ulmiis campestris. 
37- These trees are sometimes used for fences ; but neither of 
them has anything to recommend them in preference to the beech. 
Indeed, the hornbeam is in many respects so like the beech that 
at a distance it is often mistaken for it. One consideration in 
favour of the beech over both these trees is, that nurserymen sell 
the plants at a few shillings less per thousand than they charge 
for hornbeam, and at a considerable price less than what is de- 
manded for elm. Like the beech, these trees are chiefly valuable 
in forming fences around pasture lands. 
