nd form a dead-hedge of the part cut off."--(Vol. ii.
pp. 569, 570.)

We have seen hedges occasionally dying out by degrees on the road-sides,
where the banks were cut close to the roots of the thorn plants. The
following acute observation will in some cases, no doubt, account for
it:--

"I observe that some farmers remove the hedge-bank behind a
thorn-hedge, to make compost of; but such a practice is highly
injurious to the hedge, even after it is grown up, by exposing its
roots, which chiefly lie under the bank, to cold and frost. If a
hedge is cut down whose bank has been treated in this manner, and no
means are used to protect the roots when exposed on the removal of
the branches, it is possible that a few nights of severe black frost
may kill every root that lies nearest the surface. I have no doubt
that particular plants of old hedges are killed in this manner,
without the cause being suspected by the farmer."--(Vol. ii. p. 576.)

The planting of potatoes, as we should expect in a practical work of this
kind, is treated of in considerable detail and with much judgment. Upon
seed-potatoes, which have these last two or three years attracted so much
attention, we have the following passage:--

"I have no doubt, in my own mind, that were seed-potatoes securely
pitted until they were about to be planted,--not over-ripened before
they were taken out of the ground,--the sets cut from the crispest
tubers and from the waxy end,--the dung fermented by a turning of the
dunghill in proper time,--led out to the field, quickly spread, the
sets as quickly dropped on it, and the drills quickly split in the
manner represented in fig. 411, and described in (2411,) there would
be little heard of the failure even in the driest season,--at the
same time, the precaution of obtaining seed frequently from an
elevated and late district compared to where the seed is to be
planted, should not be neglected."--(Vol. iii. pp. 672, 673.)

These recommendations are correct, we believe, and judicious as far as
they go; other things, however, are within the powers of the skilful
farmer; but, to all, we would especially recommend a more careful
construction of their potato-pits. This subject is again treated of in
Vol. iii. p. 1121. The raising of seed-potatoes should be made more an
object of special care than has hitherto been the cas