HEDGE (Sax. liege, Ger, hag, Fr. hale ; in Ger., begot Is to fence, protect, cherish), a fence formed generally of growing shrubs. Hedges are very much used in some parts of the world, whilst others, equally cultivated, are destitute of them. Thus, whilst they are very common in many parts of Britain and of Italy, they arc compara tively rare in France and Germany. Por many situations, they are particularly adapted, owing to the protection which they afford from high winds; and the height to which they are permitted to grow ought to be accommodated to the requirements of the locality in this respect. They are also much more pleasant to the eye than dry stone wails or coarse palings; but there can be no doubt that where neither shelter nor ornament is intended, they cause great waste of land; as even when very trimly kept, they occupy a much more considerable breadth than other fences, and their roots draw nutriment from the soil on each side to a very Considerable distane07 has been calculated that even such reduction of the breadth occupied by hedges as might be accomplished by moderate care in trimming, would add to the extent of land available for crops iu Eng land as much as a middling-sized county.
Hedges in Britain are generally formed of hawthorn (q.v.). The unsightly blanks in hawthorn hedges, which are also injurious to their usefulness, are not easily filled up with hawthorn-plants, but in such circumstances, the barberry grows well, and is some• times used with great advantage. Hedges are also sometimes formed of barberry itself.
See BARBERRY. Beech-hedges are very common around gardens and pleasure-grounds, 'and a hedge of beech and hawthorn mixed is common in many places. Beech-hedges, 'closely trimmed, can be made almost as impervious as any kind of hedge known in Britain; and where shelter is needed, can easily be trained to a height of twenty feet or upwards. Holly makes an excellent, ornamental hedge, much in use for gardens and pleasure-grounds. Ornamental hedges are sometimes formed of yew, hornbeam, lime, and other trees, which can scarcely, however, lie reckoned among hedge-plants. Privet is much used for ornamental hedges, but they are of little use as tenses.
Hedges were in use among the ancient Romans, chiefly for the inclosure of vine yards and gardens. It is probable that they have existed in England since the times of the Romans, although not very common till the end of the 17th c.; but they are supposed to have been first introduced into Scotland and Ireland by the officers of Cromwell's armies. The first hedges planted in Scotland are said to have been at Inch-Buckling Brae, in East Lothian, and at the head of loch Tay, and that at the former place existed as a row of old hawthorns in the beginning of the present century. •