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4 OF INCLOSURES

§ I. Comparative Vahie of Dikes and Hedges.

The fences that are moft univerfally em- ployed, are either{tone dikes or hedges*. Dikes, if well built, preferve a field from the intrufion of domeftic. animals as ef- fectually as any other kind. of fence, but they afford little warmth or fhelter to the field; whereas hedges, if good, anfwer all thefe purpotes equally well. But the moit material diftinétion between dikes and hedges is, that dikes are in their high- elt Gegree of perfection as foon as they are reared, and from that moment begin to ecay; whereas, hedges, being at firft weak and tender,-ftand in neéd of attention and, care, and do not oe a. fence tor 1e- veral years atter| 1ey are planted: but having once‘attained.a due degree of lireneth, they sc fuatly acquire a higher

her degree of perfection, and are

+ Dike is a term employed in the following Effays,

to denote any kind of wall reared for the purpofe of

eld, and nothing elfe.

long

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