Level rays of the sun

While reading the 'Animal Farm' I found an expression 'level rays of the sun' what, I guess, might mean that the setting sun is almost aligned with the horizon and so, the rays are level with the pasture.
Please, let me know if my assumption is correct.

Context: All the animals were huddling at the top of a knoll in a country, descrying a wide vista- the long pasture stretching down to the main road, the hayfield.... It was a clear spring evening. 'The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays of the sun.'

And also, I would like to know what 'bursting hedges' actually means?