entirely by it; the whole hedge becomes covered with these long dead fhoots, which are always difagreeable to look at, and usually indicate the approaching end of the hedge.

The causes of the disorder being thus explained, it will readily occur, that the only radical cure is amputation; which, by giving an opportunity to begin with training the hedge anew, gives us alfo an opportunity of avoiding the errors that occafioned it. In this cafe, care ought to be taken to cut the plants as close to the ground as poffible, as there the stems will be lefs numerous than at any greater height. And particular attention ought to be had to allow very few fhoots to arise from the stems that have been cut over, and to guard carefully against fhortening them.

But, as the roots, in the cafe here fuppofed, will be very ftrong, the fhoots that are allowed to spring from the ftems will be very vigorous, and there will be fome danger of their continuing to grow later in the feafon

than

than they ought in fafety to do; in which cafe, fome part of the top of the shoot may perhaps be killed the firft winter, which ought, if poffible, to be prevented. This can only be effe&ually done, by giving a check to the vegetation in autumn, fo as to allow the young fhoots to harden in the points before the winter approaches. If any of the leaves or branches of a tree are cut away, while it is in the fate of vegetation, the whole plant feels the lofs, and it fuffers a temporary check in its growth, in proportion to the lofs that it thus fuftains. To check, therefore, the vigorous vegetation at the end of autumn, it will be prudent to chufe the beginning of September for the time of lopping off all the fupernumerabranches from the young hedge, and ry for clipping off the fide-branches that have have sprung out from it; which will, in general, be fufficient to give it such a check in its growth at that season, as will prevent any

of

of the shoots from advancing afterwards. If the hedge is extremely vigorous, a few buds may be allowed to grow upon the large ftumps in the spring, with a view to be cut off at this season, which will tend to stop the vegetation of the hedge ftill more effectually.

By this mode of management, the hedge may be preserved entire through the first winter. And, as the fhoots become lefs vigorous every fucceffive feafon, there will be lefs difficulty in preferving them at any future period. It will always be proper, however, to trim the fides of a very vigorous hedge for fome years, while it is young, about the fame feafon of the year, which will tend powerfully to prevent this malady. But, when the hedge has advanced to any confiderable height, it will be equally proper to clip it during any of the winter-months, before Candlemas.

It deserves to be remarked, before we leave this article, that the disease here complained

of

of is feldom dangerous, but in fituations that are pretty much expofed.-And there are fome fituations fo very much expofed to boisterous winds, that no care in training the hedge will be fufficient to preferve it. In these cases, the hedges must be protected from the violence of the blaits, by the means prefcribed XIII. which, united with the management here recommended, will feldom fail to prove efficacious.

If

§ XX.

Of Lopping full grown Hedges.

you live in a country where fewel is not fcarce, I would advise never to cut the top of the hedge at all, but rather allow it to advance upwards in all the beautiful luxuriance of nature; by which means it will not only afford a much better fhelter to the fields, but will also, in time, come to be annually covered with beautiful tufts of bloffom, which diffuse an agreeable aromatic o

dour

dour to a confiderable diftance around, and are fucceeded by large clufters of berries that are very agreeable to the eye; fo that it becomes, in this ftate, one of the finest ornamental fhrubs that this climate produ

ces.

But, if ftrong neceffity compels you to cut your hedge, for the sake of billets, at any rate, allow it to have attained a confiderable degree of ftrength before you think of cutting it for the first time, and then cut the tops clean over, at the height of four or five feet from the ground; which operation may be repeated afterwards, as often as shall be found neceffary; taking care, after each cutting, to lop off all the luxuriant fide-branches that may chance to spring out in confequence of that operation, which might be in danger of hurting the fide-shoots that may be below.

In this way, you may have a very good hedge; but, it will neither afford fuch shelter

to