OF FOREST-TREES. ioi

Quick from the Spoil of Cattle. And then being careful to repair sochC h. XX.as decay, or do not spring, by supplying the dead, and trimming therest ; you shall, after three Years Growth, sprinkle some Timber-treesamongst them; such as Oak , Beech, AJh, Maple, Fruit, or the like ;which being drawn young out of your Nurseries, may be very easilyinserted.

I am not in the mean Time ignorant of what is said against the scat-tering these Masts and Keys among our Fences ; which grown, over-topthe fubnafcent Hedge, may prejudice it with their Shade and T)rip:

But this might be prevented by planting Hollies (Proof against these Im-pediments) in the Line or Trench where you would raise Standards,as far as they usually spread in many Years, and which, if placed atgood Distances, how close soever to the Stem, would (besides theirstout Defence) prove a wondrous Decoration to large and ample In-closures. But to resume our former Work ; that which we affirmed to re-quire the greatest Dexterity, is the artificial plajhing of our Hedge,when it is now arrived to a fix or seven Years Head ; though some staytill the tenth, or longer. In February therefore, or Oflober , with avery sharp Hand-bill, cut away all superfluous Sprays and Stragglers ,which may hinder your Progress, and are useless. Then, searching outthe principal Stems, with a keen and light Hatchet , cut them stant-wise close to the Ground, hardly three Quarters through, or rather, sofar only, as till you can make them comply handsomely, which is yourbest Direction (lest you rift the Stem) and so lay it from your stopingas you go, folding in the lesser Branches which spring from them ; andever within a five or six Foot Distance, where you find an upright Set.(cutting off only the Top to the Height of your intended Hedge) let itstand as a Stake, to fortifie your Work, and to receive the Twinings ofthose Branches about it. Lastly, at the Top (which would be aboutfive Foot above Ground) take the longest, most slender, and flexibleTwigs which you reserved, and (being cut as the former, where needrequires) bind in the Extremities of all the reft ; and thus your Work isfinished.. This being done very close and thick, makes an impregnableHedge, in few Years; for it may be repeated as you fee occasion; andwhat you so cut away, will help to make your dry Hedges for your youngFlantations, or be profitable for the Oven , and make good Bavin ;namely, the extravagant side Branches springing the more upright, stillthe newly wounded are healed. There are some yet who would haveno Stakes cut from the Trees, save here and there one; so as to leavehalf the Head naked, and the other standing • since the over-hangingBows will kill what is under them, and ruin the Tree; so pernicious isthis half-topping: But let this be a total Amputation so r a new and lustySpring. There is nothing more prejudicial to fubnafcent young Trees ,than when newly trimmed and pruned, to have their (as yet raw)Wounds poisoned with continual dripping; as is well observed byMr. Nourfe ■' But this is meant of repairing decayed Hedges. ForStakes in this Work, Oak is to be preferred, though some will useElder, but it is not good, or the B lac k-t horn, Crab-Tree ; in moorishGround IVithy, AJh, Maple, Hafel, not lasting, (which some makeHedges of, but it being apt to the browsing of Cattle, when the youngShoots appeared, it does better in Copses) the rest not lasting, shouldyet be driven well in at every Yard of Interval both before and afterthey are bound, till they have taken the hard Earth, and are very fast;

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