Britain. It is a striking fact, that in Norfolk, where there is very little Oak, except what grows in the Hedges, and even in thefe, for one timber tree there are ten pollards, yet the country experiences no want of Oak timber.

BUT while we recommend the Oak, as eligible to be planted in Hedges, we condemn, as unfit for that purpofe, every other tree (except, perhaps, the Aquatics in a marfh, the Beech and Pine tribe upon a barren mountain, or the Elm where Oak has lately occupied the foil) and more especially the Afh; not only as being the greatest enemy to the farmer, but because the excellency of Ash timber arises from a length of stem, and cleanness of grain groves, therefore, and not Hedges, are the natural fituation of the Ash.

THE method of raifing the Oak in Hedges, may either be by fowing the acorns, or planting the feedlings, at the time of planting the fence wood: we would wish to recommend the practice of both; namely, to plant a well rooted thriving nursery plant (fuch as has previously been tapped and tranfplanted) at the distance of every ftatute rod; and, at the fame time, to dibble round each plant three or four acorns, to guard against a mifcarriage, and to give the judicious woodman a choice in the propereft plant to be trained.

THIS distance may be objected to, as being too close; and so it may in a deciduous Hedge; but, in a Holly Hedge, we would not wish to fee Oaks stand at a greater diftance; for, fituated in a Hedge, they have unlimited room to spread on either fide; and, by standing near each other, they are more likely to throw out main branches, fit for fhip timber, than they would if they had full head room. For this reafon, it might not be amifs to plant at every half rod, and, when the Hedge is perceived to begin to fuffer, to thin them in the manner most conducive to the ends propofed, holding jointly in view the Fence and the Timber.

SECTION THE THIRD.

DEFENDING THE YOUNG PLANTS.

LITTLE more remains to be faid upon this head. The ditch, bank, and dwarf hedge have already been fully defcribed; and this is by much the cheapest, and a very effectual, method, where it can be conveniently practifed; but where the nature of the foil is fuch, that a ditch fufficiently deep, to defend the young plants, cannot be funk but at too great an expence, fome other expedient muft be fought for.

POSTS

POSTS and rails, wound with bushes in the Yorkshire manner, are an effectual fence; but they are expensive in the extreme.

IN Surrey and Kent, the prevailing practice is to fet a strong stake-and-edder Hedge behind the quick fets, and throw rough bushes into a fhallow ditch, in front: this in a coppice-wood country may be done at a reasonable expence; but it is by no means effectual.

*IN fome places, wattle Hedges are used; and in others furze faggots, fet in clofe order, are found effectual, for this purpose: in fhort, almost every country affords its own peculiar materials, and every judicious planter will endeavour to find out those which are most eligible for the given situation.

SECTION THE FOURTH,

THE METHOD OF TRAINING.

MUCH, very much indeed, depends upon this part of the bufinefs: nevertheless, it is the common idea of planters of hedges, everywhere, that, having performed the business of planting, and

having made a fence fufficient to guard the plants, at the time of planting, their part is finished; the reft is of courfe left to nature and chance.

THE repairing of the fence;

THE cleaning, &c. of the plants; and the

TRIMMING or pruning them; are not however lefs neceffary operations, than the planting and fencing; for without proper attention to thofe, the expence beftowed upon thefe is only fo much. thrown away. A single gap, especially where fheep are to be fenced against, may cause to be undone,. in half an hour, what has been doing for two or three years.

In this point of view, a deep ditch fence is preferable to one raised upon the ground; provided the ditch be kept pointed; for without this precaution, a ditch, unless it be very deep indeed, must not be depended upon, as a fence, either against cattle or sheep: but neither the one nor the other will trust themselves in a ditch, without a bottom for them to ftand upon; nothing, indeed, is more terrible to them; especially if part of the mold be formed into a fharp banklet, placed on the outer brink of the ditch.

HARES are great enemies to young Hedges: a ditch fence is the best preservative against them (paling

(paling or other clofe fences only excepted). An offset, however, is favorable to them; they will run along it, and crop the plants from end to end : therefore, where hares are numerous, a tufted branch of Furze, Thorns, Holly, or other rough wood, fhould be ftuck, here and there, upon the platform, to prevent their running along it.

THE next bufinefs is WEEDING, either with the hoe or by hand; the former is more eligible, where it can be used; as breaking the earth about the roots of the plants is of great service.

FERN is a great enemy to young hedge plants; it is difficult to be drawn by hand, without endangering the plants; and, being tough, it is equally difficult to be cut with the hoe; and, if cut, will presently spring up again. The best manner of getting rid of it, when grown to a head, is to give the stem a twift, near the root, and let the top remain on, to wither and die, by degrees: this not only prevents its immediate fpringing; but, to all appearance, destroys the root.

THISTLES, docks, and other tall weeds, are equally injurious to the tender plants, in robbing them of their nourishment, and drawing them up weak and slender, or fmothering them out-right, if not timely relieved by the fostering hand of the VOL. I. planter.

G