Hedge, properly includes every kind of fence, but the present details apply for the most part to growing fences. Abercrombie says, that "all outward hedges designed as fences should have a ditch on the outside, three or four feet wide at the top, three deep, sloping to one wide at bottom, raising a low bank on the inside on which to plant the hedge, which may be planted either on the side of the 'said inner bank in two rows, one above the other a foot asunder, planting them as you advance in forming the ditch and bank, or may be planted entirely on the top of the bank, first forming the ditch and bank, and leveling the top of the bank so as to form a sort of border, then plant the sets in one or two rows the whole length; but two rows a foot asunder is the most eligible for all outward fences, as it always forms the thickest, strongest, and most effectual hedge-fence. Mark out a space for a ditch three or four feet wide at top, which is to be digged three feet deep each side, sloping gradually to a foot wide at bottom, forming a bank along upon the inner edge on which to bed or plant, which should be planted as you advance in forming the ditch and bank.

Having lined out the width of the ditch, then along the inner edge lay a row of square spit turfs, grass side downwards, to form the beginning of the bank, backing it up with spits of earth from the formation of the ditch, and top it with a little of the fine mould or crumbs; and then upon this proceed to lay the first row of plants: first let the sets be headed to about five or six inches, and the roots trimmed, then lay them upon the bed of turf with their tops outward, in an upward direction, about ten or twelve inches asunder, covering their roots with mould also out of the ditch; and then lay another row of turf along upon the necks of the plants, and more mould from the ditch upon, and behind, the turf; and when the bank is thus raised a foot above the row of sets, plant another row in the same manner, placing each set against the spaces of those of the first row, so covering them with more earth from the ditch to the depth of three feet, sloping each side to one foot width at bottom, and trim up all remaining earth, throwing a sufficiency behind the top of the banking to bank up the whole even, in a sort of broad border, all the way along the top, sloping a little back, so as to correspond nearly with the adjoining ground.

But in planting for an outward fence, some form the ditch and bank first as above, and plant the sets in two rows along the top; that is, after having formed the ditch and bank, then leveling the top forming a foot of border all along a yard wide; plant the sets along the middle thereof upright, in two rows a foot asunder, and six inches distant in each row, observing the same when intended to raise a hedge at once from seed sowed where you design the hedge to be, sowing them along the top in drills a foot asunder. Sometimes when hedges are designed for middle fences to divide fields, a two-sided bank is raised a yard high, and as broad at top, having a slight ditch on each side; and each side of the bank is formed with square spit turfs from the adjoining ground, and the middle filled up with mould from the ditches on each side; so that when finished, it forms a yard-wide border all the way along the top, and along the middle of which plant two rows of hedge-sets or seed, in drills, as before observed.

But in places where no ditch nor raised bank is required, as may be the case for middle hedges in the interior parts of grounds, especially in gardens; then the place for the hedge being marked out on the level ground two or three feet broad, dig it along one good spade deep at lesst, and then plant your sets of any sort in two rows, ranging along the middle; or if you design to sow seeds, etc, of any sort at once, where you intend to have the hedge, sow them in two drills a foot asunder the whole length.

"In respect to the training and general culture of these sorts of hedges it must be remarked, that all such as are exposed to cattle, must as soon as planted be fenced, either with a stake and bush hedge, with hurdles, or with rails and open paling, for four or five years, till the hedge grows up, observing not to place the fence too close to the hedge to interrupt its growth. The hedge must also be duly weeded while young, and this should be particularly attended to the first two years. And if designed to train the hedge regularly by clipping it with garden shears, it should be annually performed in summer; observing, however, to top it but sparingly while it is young, until arrived at its intended height: only just trim off the tops of the straggling shoots to preserve a little regularity, and promote lateral wood to thicken it as it advances, and cut it in also moderately on the sides; but when arrived at nearly its proper height of four, five or six feet, or more, then trim it close on the sides and top, annually, to preserve it thick, and within its proper bounds; in cutting the sides always cutting in nearly to the old wood of the former year's cut, otherwise your hedge will get too broad; and keep always the top narrower than the bottom".

Hedge-shrubs are Evergreen Holly; Yew; Laurel; Laurustinus; Phillyrea; Alaternus; Bay; and Evergreen Oak: but the holly and yew form the best hedges for general use.