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Inclofing of Land, — Hedges,

being brought clofe to them by the feet, and the raking of it up on each fide.There are feveral other varieties in the modes of planting, but which, as theydiffer only in the manner of preparing the trench or furrow, and bringing themould to the roots of the plants, do not require to be particularly defcribed.

In the laft method of planting, the young quicks are, infome places,put into holesmade by a kind of dibble; but this is a practice that cannot be recommended, asthe roots of the plants are not only too much confined, but the water, efpeciallyin retentive ftiff foils, is liable to ftagnate in the holes, and prevent them fromtaking root quickly, by which they are often wholly deftroyed.

The method of planting quick hedges upon the furface of the ground withoutmuch elevation, feems moll fuited to the drier kinds of foil, or fuch as would berendered too dry for their growth by having ditches cut on the fides. But evenin this way of proceeding, fomekind of ridge, or elevation, fhould be preferved,that the rain water may not injure the young plants by ftagnating too muchabout their roots.

In planting the quicks where the ground is raifed, Mr. Billingfley advifes atrench to be cut in the middle of the bank, into which the fets are to be put atthe diftances of about three inches from each other, with their heads a littleinclining. The roots muff then be covered with a little of the bell mould, andafterwards the whole trench be filled up with rotten dung or comport, only (hew-ing fome mere good mould on the furface *. But we are affured on the autho-rity of much experience and obfervation, that it is infinitely better to place themfive or fix inches apart; and that it is feldom neceffary to ufe dung or comportto the roots of them where the foil is tolerably good, and care is taken toapply it well to the roots, as it is apt to breed infedls, which are very injuriousto the roots of the quicks.

The diftances recommended above may, however, anfwer very well where theplants arc fmall, and the lituation expofed; but fix or feven inches is betterwhere the plants are of a good fize, and the fituation not too open. Indeed fomeadvife them to be planted ftill wider, as nine inches; and on good land, as much asa foot. Thick planting is, however, in general, to be preferred, efpecially inexpofed places ; as hedges, under fuch circumftances, for the moft part thrivethe beft, efpecially for a few years; and they may afterwards be prevented frombeing liable to choke and deftroy each other by proper thinning. Where fencingwood is not eafily procured, it may alfo fometimes be a good pradtice to plantthe quicks both in the face and top of the bank.

In expofed fituations it will always be neceffary to (helter and protedt the

* View of the .Agriculture of Somcrfetthire.