provide a fufficient number of plants; which will be best done by previously rearing them in a nursery of your own, as near the field to be inclosed as you can conveniently have it. For, as they are very bulky, the carriage of them would be troublefome, if they were brought from any confiderable distance. The best kinds of willow for this use, are fuch as make the longest and strongest shoots, and are not of a brittle nature. All the large kinds of hoop-willows may be employed for this purpose; but,, there is another kind, with ftronger and more taper shoots, covered with a dark green bark when young, which, upon the older fhoots, becomes of an afh-gray, of a firm texture, and a little rough to the touch. The leaves are not fo long, and a great deal broader than thofe of the common hoop-willow, pretty thick, and of a dark green colour. What name this fpecies of willow is ufually known by, I cannot tell; but, as it becomes very quickly of a

large

large fize at the root, and is ftrong and firm, it ought to be made choice of for this purpofe, in preference to all other kinds that I have feen.

The fhoots ought to be of two or three years growth before they can be properly used, and should never be less than eight or nine feet in length. Thefe ought to be cut over close by the ground immediately before planting, and carried to the field at their whole length.

The planter having ftretched a line along the middle of the ridge which was prepared for their reception, begins at one end thereof, thrusting a row of thefe plants firmly into the ground, close by the fide of the line, at the distance of eighteen or twenty inches from one another; making them all fant a little to one fide in a direction parallel to the line. This being finished, let him begin at the oppofite end of the line, and plant another row in the intervals between the plants

of

of the former row; making these incline as much as the others, but in a direction exactly contrary; and then plaiting these basketways, work them into lozenges like a net, fastening the tops by plaiting the fmall twigs with one another, which, with very little trouble, may be made to bind together very firmly. The whole, when finished, affumes a very beautiful net-like appearance, as is reprefented at fig. 5th; and is at first a tolerable good defence: And, as thefe plants immediately take root and quickly encrease in fize, it becomes, after a few years, a very ftrong fence, which nothing can penetrate.

This kind of hedge I myself have employed, and find that a man may plant and twift properly about a hundred yards in a day, if the plants be laid down to his hand : And, in a fituation fuch as I have described, I know no kind of fence which could be reared at fuch a fmall expence,fo quickly become a defence, and continue fo long

in

in good order. But it will be greatly improved by putting a plant of eglantine between each two plants of willow, which will quickly climb up and be fupported by them; and, by its numerous prickles, would effectually preferve the defenceless willow from being browsed upon by cattle.

As it will be neceffary to keep the narrow ridge, upon which the hedge is planted, in culture for one year at least, that the plants of eglantine may not be choaked by weeds, and the roots of the willow may be allowed to spread with the greater ease in the tender mold produced by this means, it will be proper to ftir the earth once or twice by a gentle horse-hoe in the beginning of fummer; and, in the month of June, it may be fowed with turnips, or planted with colworts, which will abundantly repay the expence of the fallow.

S XXIII

§ XXIII.

Of the Ufe of the Lombardy Poplar in Fen cing.

The Lombardy poplar may likewise, on fome occafions, be employed for a fence with propriety. This is a tree that has been lately introduced into Britain from Germany, and is not yet fo generally known as it seems to deserve. It is faid to be one of the quickest growing trees that is found in northern climates; and the wood is faid to be of as great value to the husbandman as either ah or elm. It is eafily propagated, by cuttings like the willow, and, like it, delights in a rich mellow foil, tending a little toward dampnefs, in which it grows with amazing vigour; rifing with a ftrong upright stem, growing three or four feet in height each

year