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ON INCLOSING LAND

through soils of very different qualities, the hedge planterought either to select such species of plants as are suitable forthe respective soils, or he should endeavour, by drainage andmanuring, to equalize the soils as much as possible all alongthe line of the intended fence. If these precautions are ne-glected, the hedge is sure to grow very unequally in differentparts of the line, strong in some parts and weak in others;in which case, the whole ultimately turns out of little or nouse. '

Before planting out the young thorns in the line of fence,it is necessary to prune the tops, and to dress off any brokenparts of their roots; and, for this purpose, a sharp instru-ment that cuts clean should always be employed. The ordi-nary practice of hedgers, to hash the roots and tops with acommon spade, is barbarous in the extreme, as the parts arenecessarily bruised, and do not grow freely afterwards.

The ordinary practice of placing thorns on the sides ofhigh walls or mounds of earth, though these promise to se-cure the young plants from injury, often become the cause oftotal or partial failure. The root weeds often grow so luxu-riantly out of this bank or wall, as to be incapable of extir-pation, and choke the thorns in their growth. This bank ofearth often becomes so poor and dry as to be utterly unfitfor nourishing the young hedge plants; and after some yearsof feeble growth, they sicken and die out. Besides, this ear-then wall or mound moulders down, and becomes entirelyuseless as a fence, long before the hedge plants are sufficient-ly grown to supply its place. It may likewise be observed,that the space ol ground occupied by this earthen bank, andthe ditch from which it is formed, is a considerable sacrificeof soil, that might be productive of emolument under culti-vation. The only remedy, when a hedge begins to fail fromwant of nourishment, owing to the bank becoming poor anddry, is to throw down the old earthen bank, so as to admitair and moisture, and to secure the young hedge by meansof a rail fence. By this plan of management, previously