313
cutting over the thorns, many a hedge that is now of littleuse might be recovered. As a corollary from this fact, itmay naturally be asked, why should such walls of earth beerected, when such are their injurious effects: and why arenot the thorns planted on a bed more judiciously formed,where they may be secured from the first by a rail ? Perhapsthe proper answer to this question is, that, in Scotland atleast, sufficient materials for rails, both in quality and quan-tity, are exceedingly difficult to be procured, and there areno means so effectual for protecting the young hedge in thecourse of its growth, as the use of a fence ditch on one side,and a mound or chip-dike on the other, with such other aidsas will be mentioned in the sequel. When the hedge is train-ed up to become feneible, the mound on one side may bethrown down, and the ditch on the other side filled up, un-less the latter serves at the same time for the purpose ofdrainage.
In arable soils, the following plan may deserve consi-deration. Having cleared the soil in the intended lineof fence from all weeds, and enriched it by manure, eitherby means of an effectual naked fallow, or a well dressedcrop of potatoes or turnips, let it be gathered up by theplough into a narrow high crowned ridge, well harrowed;and again gathered and harrowed, till the line is made quitefit for the reception of the thorns. A small open drain maybe run along one side of the line, or both if necessary; buta stout rail must be erected to protect the growing thorns.By this very simple mode of inclosing, very little expencewould be incurred, very little land would be wasted, thethorn plants would probably grow much faster, and incom-parably less expence would be afterwards incurred, in weed-ing and training up the fence. This plan will only answer,however, in extraordinarily favourable soils, and where abun-dant materials can be had for fence rails; and, generallyspeaking, the ditch and mound are necessary for protectinga young hedge.