268 THE NURSERY. [March. 
same way; but you may suffer some to stand ungrafted, for many 
will yield very good cider fruit, and perhaps some may produce 
new and superior kinds. You will be able to judge by leaf, shoot, 
and bud, which are most likely to produce the best fruit, and which 
not, and manage them accordingly. 
We have various other plants that might answer for live hedges, 
which due observation and a little experience will point out; but, 
upon the whole, I am of opinion, that the cockspur thorn will answer 
a better purpose with us for outward, strong, arid durable fences 
than any other. 
Flashing of Hedges. 
This is a very necessary operation, especially when hedges are 
grown old, or have been so neglected as that gaps are formed in 
several places; and indeed it is the practice in countries where the 
greatest attention is paid to them, either to plash, or cut them all 
clean down to within six inches of the ground every fourteen or 
fifteen years. To perform this business, you must be provided 
with a good sharp hedge-bill, handsaw, and a pair of strong leather 
gloves, that will reach up to your elbows, to protect your hands 
and arms from the spines or thorns; unless you are provided with 
these you will have a bloody job of it; but being so fortified it will 
be but a recreative amusement. 
Then select some of the main upright stems at distances in 
proportion to the general growth of the hedge, to serve for stakes, 
which are to be cut off with the saw at the height of three or four 
feet from the roots: other stakes are to be drove down in those 
vacancies where growing ones do not occur, between which, as well 
as the former, to plash and lay the general branches; observing 
that the shorter the shoots which are to be plashed, the closer the 
stakes should be to one another. The remainder of the hedge you 
are then to thin, leaving only a sufliciency of the best and longest 
middle-sized shoots, to lay down and work in between those stakes, 
cutting the others off in a sloping manner, within five or six inches 
of the ground, always preferring the saw to the bill, for this pur- 
pose, when it can be used conveniently. Proceed then to lay down 
the intended shoots, first lopping off the straggling side branches, 
and cutting or gashing occasionally such of the larger growths as 
are not pliant enough to yield and keep their intended stations, ob- 
serving to cut them no deeper than what is absolutely necessary; 
lay and weave them in between the stakes almost to a horizontal 
position, all leaning one way, and their top extremities terminating 
as much as possible on the ditch side, if any; if notj equally on 
both. When the hedge is thus plashed, finish the top all the way 
with some of the longest and?most pliant, but stout, of the shoots 
which were first cut out, previously divesting them of all their side 
branches, and working two together, lapping around and over one 
another between each stake, by which the whole plashing will be 
kept down to its proper birth; then with the hedge-bill or shears 
