March.] THE NURSERY. 269 
stakes should be to one another. The remainder of the hedge you 
are then to thin, leaving only a sufficiency 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 not, 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 round 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, dress and lop off any projecting or straggling branches at 
the sides, to within six inches of the hedge, and the work is finish- 
ed. 
Never lay your plashes too upright, but near to a level; by so do- 
ing, the sap will the better break out in several places, for the pro- 
duction and nourishment of a number of young side shoots, and not 
run so much to the ends, as it would if laid at a higher elevation. 
Also, av id crowding your plashes too much, and never lay in more 
than can conveniently be wove between the stakes; by which the 
young productions will have the benefit of the air, and grow much 
stronger than otherwise. 
Old overgrown fences, which have been planted in the hedge 
and ditch way, may be all cut clean off with the saw, within six 
inches of their roots, and the fallen earth in the bottom of the 
ditch dug up and laid at the back of them; they will shoot vigo- 
rously, and soon form a fine fresh hedge. 
Large ground hedges will be improved, by cutting them down at 
intervals often or fifteen years, to the height of three, four, or five 
feet, and where vacancies occur, to fill them with plashing, always 
preferring, on these occasions, the saw to the bill, especially when 
the shoots are large. 
The Plane, Tulip, and Nettle Trees. 
The Platanus occidentalism or Plane-tree, commonly called the 
large button wood, and in some places, though very improperly, 
sycamore, is a valuable tree for shade and many other useful pur- 
poses. It may be propagated, either by cuttings, layers, or seed; 
but the last method is much preferable to either of the former, not 
only with respect to this, but to every other tree bearing seeds, 
which may be cultivated for its timber; and although it may appear 
more tedious at first, it will in the end be found the most expedU 
