HEDGES. HE raifing of LIVE HEDGES and HEDGE TH ROW TIMBER conftitutes no inconfiderable part of the bufinefs of planting. The value of good Hedges is known to every husbandman; and notwithstanding the complaints against Hedge-row Timber as being liable to be knotty, &c. the quality of the timber itself is not queftioned its faultinefs arifes wholly from an improper treatment of the tree, and not from the fituation of its growth. Indeed, we are clear in our opinion, that, under proper management, no fituation whatever is better adapted to the valuable purpofe of raifing SHIP-TIMBER than Hedges: The roots have free range in the adjoining inclosures, and the top is exposed to the exercise of the winds, with a fufficient space to throw out lufty arms, and form, at a proper height, a spreading head. Thus quickness of growth, with ftrength and CROOKEDNESS of Timber, are at once obtained. We are well aware of the injury refulting from woody Hedge-rows to arable inclofures; but every man experienced in rural matters must be convinced that it is not well-trained Timber-trees, but high Hedges and low Pollards, which are the bane of corn-fields. Thefe, forming a high and impervious barrier, preclude the air and exercise fo effential to the vegetable, as well as the animal, creation : t in Norfolk, lands thus encumbered are, with great ftrength and propriety of expreffion, faid to be wood-bound. Befides, Pollards and low-spreading trees are certain deftruction to the Hedge-wood which grows under them. Neither of thefe evils, however, refult from tall Timber-oaks, and a Hedge trimmed down to four or five feet high: a circulation of air is, in this case, rather promoted than retarded; and it is well known that a trimmed Hedge will thrive perfectly well under tall ftemmed trees, Oaks more efpecially. We will therefore venture to recommend, for arable inclofures, Hedges trimmed to four or five feet high, with Oak timbers of fifteen to twenty-five feet ftem. But for grafs lands, higher Hedges are more eligible. The graffes affect warmth, which promotes their growth, and thereby increases their quantity, though their quality may be injured. Befides, a tall fence affords fhelter to cattle, provided it be thick and clofe at the bottom; otherwife, by admitting the air in currents, the blaft is rendered still more piercing. The fhade of trees is equally friendly to cattle in fummer, as thick Hedges are in the colder months; therefore, in the Hedges of grafs inclosures, we wish to see the Oak wave its lofty fpreading head, whilft the Hedge itself is permitted to make its natural fhoots: remembering, however, that the oftener it is cut down the more durable it will be as a fence, and the better shelter it will give to cattle; more efpecially if the fides be trimmed the first and fecond years years after cutting, in order to give it an upright tendency, and thicken it at the bottom. Upon bleak hills, and in expofed fituations, it is well to have two or even three rows of Hedgewood, about four feet apart from each other; the middle row being permitted to reach, and always remain at, its natural height; whilft the fide-rows are cut down alternately to give perpetual fecurity to the bottom, and afford a conftant fupply of materials for Dead-hedges and other purposes of Underwood. Having thus given a general sketch of our ideas as to the different kinds of Hedges moft eligible to be raised, we proceed to treat of the method of raifing them. In doing this it will be proper to confider, 1. The woods moft eligible for Hedges. 2. The time and manner of planting them. : 1.The SPECIES OF HEDGE WOOD depends in fome measure upon foil and fituation. That which is proper for a found foil in a temperatè fituation, may not be eligible for a marth or a mountain and indeed a fence may be formed of any tree or ftrong fhrub, provided it will thrive in the given fituation. Nevertheless, there are fome fpecies much more eligible than others; we particularize the following: The Hawthorn. The Crab-Tree. The Aquatic Tribe. Hh3 The H The Holly. The Furze. The Hawthorn has been confidered, during time immemorial, as the wood moft proper for live fences. This pre eminence probably arose from the feedling-plants being readily collected in woods and waftes; the method of raifing them in feedbeds being formerly, and indeed in fome parts of the kingdom even to this day, but little practifed. The longevity of the Hawthorn, especially if it be frequently cropped, and its patience in cropping; its natural good qualities as a live fence, and its usefulness as affording materials for dead hedges, are other reasons why it has been univerfally adopted. Another advantage of the Hawthorn-It will grow in almost any foil, provided the fituation be tolerably dry and warm. However, if the foil hath not a degree of richness in itself, as well as a geniality of fituation, the Hawthorn will not thrive fufficiently, nor make a progrefs rapid enough, to recommend it, in preference, as a hedge-wood. The Crab-tree, amongst the deciduous tribe, ftands next: indeed, taken all in all, it may be faid to rival, if not to exceed, the Hawthorn itself. Its growth is confiderably quicker, and it will thrive in poorer foils and in bleaker fituations; and altho' it may not be fo thorny and full of branches as the Hawthorn, yet it grows fufficiently rugged to make an admirable fence. Add to this, tho' its branches may not be preferable to thofe of the Hawthorn for fhooting dead-hedges, they undoubtedly afford a much greater quantity of flakes; and no wood what whatever (the Yew perhaps only excepted) affords better ftakes than the Crab-tree. The feedling plants too are readily raised, as the feeds of the Crab vegetate the first year. We do not mean, however, to force down the Crab-tree upon our Reader as being, in a general light, preferable to the Hawthorn we wish only to state, impartially, their comparative value; leaving him to confult his own fituation and conveniency, and, having fo done, to judge for himself. Nevertheless, from what has been adduced, we may venture to conclude, that upon a barren foil, and in a bleak fituation, the Crab-tree, as a hedge-wood, claims a preference to the Hawthorn. The Aquatics. As the Crab excels the Hawthorn upon bleak barren hills, fo the Aquatics gain a preference in low fwampy grounds for altho' the Hawthorn delights in a moift fituation, yet much stagnant water about its roots is offenfive to it. Of the Aquatics, the Alder feems to claim a preference; its growth is more forked and fhrubby than that of the Poplar or Willow; and its leaves are particularly unfavory to cattle. In point of ornament, however, it is exceeded by the Black Poplar, which, if kept trimmed, will feather to the ground, and form a close and tolerably good fence. The Holly. Much has been faid, and much has been written, of the excellency of Holly-hedges: nevertheless, as fences to farm-inclofures, they ftill exist in books and theory only; not having yet been introduced into general practice, we beHh 4 lieve |