IN SCOTLAND.

509

SECT. IV.

HEDGE AND DITCH.

ip

I HIS species of fence is the most frequent, and in the high -est estimation in the arable districts of Scotland . In particu*lar soils, and for particular purposes, it answers better thanany stone wall; the ditch operating, at the same time, both asa fence and a drain, and the hedge giving more effectual shel-ter than a bare wall, and being more beautiful; and, in manyinstances, the hedge likewise contains a row of trees, at pro-per intervals, adding to the shelter and beauty of the fence.The expences of this species of fence are seldom above athird part, or a half at most, of those attending the construc-tion of the Galloway dike, by the rood of nineteen feet. Butthe hedge and ditch require particular attention, and someexpence is yearly incurred in training; and, after all, they donot make a fence for some years, perhaps not one time out often becoming at last so effective as a stone wall. Where theysucceed, however, in proper soils, and under attentive ma-nagement, they become excellent and permanent fences, im-proving every year in their value ; while all other fences ofdead materials are emphatically said to be major at their birth,and deteriorate every year, till they require a complete re-newal.

To errors in executing the hedge and ditch fence, and ne-gligence in its training and protection, the failure of thisfence may in many cases be ascribed. When it succeeds,by being placed on proper soils, and by careful and judi-cious management, it becomes both durable, effectual, andornamental. The white-thorn, hawthorn, or may, the Mes-pilus oxycantha of botanists, which is the plant most inuse and estimation for live-hedges, grows naturally on the