REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 37 



developed sufficient strength to serve the purpose of inclosure of land against cattle 

 •without fencing, but many of them are very ornamental and would serve an admirable 

 purpose as dividing lines between neighbours in towns and cities where strong fences 

 are not required or for separating a lawn from the fruit or kitchen garden. 



HINTS ON HEDGE PLANTING. 



In planting hedges the young shrubs or trees of deciduous species should not be 

 more than one and a half to two feet high, and at the time of planting should be cut 

 back to six or eight inches above ground to encourage a thick growth at the bottom, a 

 single row fifteen inches apart is all that is necessary in any case. When planting ever- 

 green hedges, young bushy trees from twelve to eighteen inches high should be chosen, 

 and these will need but little trimming when planted, just sufficient to make the plants 

 even in height and width, If evergreens are cut severely back so as to deprive them of 

 much of their foliage they are unable readily to replace such loss and are liable to suffer 

 permanent injury from such treatment. When planting a hedge it should have a space 

 of at least two feet on either side of it clear of grass, and this land should be kept free 

 from weeds and hoed occasionally during the summer ; as the hedge grows, this space 

 will need widening. The after trimming will necessarily vary in degree depending on 

 the annual growth made, and the taste of the grower. Many of the species to be referred 

 to can be easilypropagated from cuttings. Such cuttings should be made late in the autumn 

 unless otherwise directed, after the leaves have fallen ; they should be from six to eight in- 

 ches long ; the lower end should be cut off smoothly just below the bud, the upper end just 

 above the bud. When the cuttings are planted they should be put out in rows from 

 one to two feet apart and about six inches apart in the rows and buried so that the 

 upper bud shall be just above the ground. They may be planted in beds as soon as 

 they are cut or they may be tied in small bundles and buried in the garden a foot or so 

 below the surface and the earth mounded up over them, or buried in moist sand in a 

 cellar and planted very early in the spring. During the winter there forms on the 

 ends of the cuttings a granular growth called a " callous," from which young roots 

 start in the spring. Well established plants suitable for hedge planting may usually be 

 grown in a single season from such cuttings if they are well cared for and in most 

 cases no special skill is required to secure successful results. The method of propa- 

 gation of each species will be given with other particulars under their special headings 

 in the following list. 



LIST OP TREES AND SHRUBS TESTED FOR HEDGES. 



1. Siberian Pea Tree. Caragana arborescens. — This hedge was planted in 1889. 

 Its present height is 4 feet 6 inches, width near base 3 feet, it has made good growth 

 and forms a compact and very pretty hedge. The foliage is neat, and early in the 

 summer it is covered with small bright yellow pea-shaped flowers. It is a native of 

 Siberia, is very hardy and has succeeded well on all the experimental farms, including 

 the farms at Brandon, Man., and Indian Head, N.W.T., and promises to be one of the 

 most useful bushes in cultivation for general hedge purposes. The Siberian pea tree is 

 easily grown from seed, which may be sown when fully ripe in the autumn or early in 

 the spring. 



2. American or White Elm. Ulmus Americana. — Planted in 1889, present height 

 5 feet 4 inches, width near base 3 feet 6 inches. Beginning with young trees about two 

 feet high and cut back, followed by regular training, this makes a compact, hardy and 

 useful hedge. On account of its tendency to make strong growth, it requires more 

 attention than some others. Raised from seed. Young seedlings of this tree of suitable 

 size, may be found in many localities in the woods. 



3. Russian Mulberry. Morus Tatarica. — Planted in 1889, present height 5 feet 6 

 inches, width near base 5 feet. This hedge is very handsome and compact and has 

 grown more both in height and width than most of the others. It is easily kept in 

 order, but is not entirely hardy, the tips of the branches are winter-killed more or less 



