264 REPORTS FROM LOCAL SOCIETIES. 



gate fully and purchase very cautiously any new device whereby they claim they 

 are going to add so much to your wealth and convenience. 



Let us look for a moment at the Osage Orange hedge fence as grown by the 

 Dayton Hedge Fence Company of Ohio. Admitting that the hedge fence is 

 desirable, yet untested in this climate to any great extent, would it not be far 

 better for a few to buy and the rest wait the result ? As they claim it only 

 takes four years to grow a full fence the most of us could afford to wait that 

 length of time for the sake of having it fully tested. Should it prove a failure 

 what a saving it would be! Better wait than act in haste and then repent at 

 leisure. We have the testimony of some good men setting forth its merits and 

 demerits, but none so closely coincides with my views as does that of Professor 

 Beal. Let us see what he says in regard to it : 



"In my opinion there are two sides to this question and they should both be 

 •well considered before any one in Central Michigan attempts Osage Orange for hedge. 

 This is a southern plant, and although considerably used in certain parts of Michigan, 

 in many places it kills out badly. This is the case at the Agricultm-al College and 

 in North Iknsing. 



* ' A well grown and well kept hedge presents a fine appearance, but most of our 

 farmers have never tried it, and even after it is well grown by a company, w^ould not 

 likely keep it in good order. 



"The roots of the plants, especially after some years, draw considerable from the 

 crops along near the hedge. True, they break the wind and stop the wind in winter and 

 sometimes aid the crops in this way. The farmer should make up his mind quite delib- 

 erately and not be too easily persuaded to try a new thing, especially by interested 

 parties, no matter if they do all thev promise. 



" Read the following from The Industrialist by Prof. E. M. Shelton, of Kansas agri- 

 cultural college : ' A gentleman writes us asking that we aid him in disposing of the 

 considerable stock of Osage Orange hedge plants which he is carrying. The request 

 takes us a good deal by surprise ; for, in truth, we have not seen half a mile of new 

 hedge in the last five years. The barb-wire fence has made obsolete the thorny, expen- 

 sive, ground-consuming, vermin -harboring hedge. About the only man who has any- 

 thing to say against the barb- wire fence is the unfortunate on horseback, who ' ' brings 

 up " sviddenly on a dark night against the sturdy wore.' 



"Similar views are entertained by Dr. S. A. Knapp, Professor of Agriculture in 

 Iowa Agricultural College. I have talked with both these men and with many others 

 in various parts of our country, especially where timber is scarce or high in price, and 

 the opinion is fast gaining ground that the best farm fence is made of a combination 

 of wire and boards supported by posts, and the wire or band is that with very short 

 tapering barbs. The writer has no interest in this matter, one way or the other, only 

 to serve the interests of the farmers. He gives it as his opinion that in ten years or 

 less, nine out of ten men in this vicinity, who try osage orange grown on any j)lan will 

 wish they had their money back. I should add that I have been familiar with this 

 patent mode of making hedge for some years.'" 



You see that Professor Beal says that there are two sides to the question. 

 Now, in your opinion, which side would he be likely to take up, for or against 

 the farmers? He being at the head of one department of our State Agricul- 

 tural College, and that whole institution as a child looking to the people of the 

 State of Michigan for support, and whenever it fails to faithfully serve the 

 people they may withhold their support. I would say in view of the relation he 

 sustains to the people we should weigh Avell his words of caution. 



He says it is a southern plant and kills out badly in some places, even at the 

 college farm. 



The professor also presupposes that we would not be likely to keep it in good 

 order. Now this would be for each one to determine for himself. We know 

 our own traits, and whether we have enough pride and energy to properly attend 

 to cultivating and trimming twice a year, or whether our feeble ambition and 

 the pressure of other business would be likely to prevent us from taking a 

 scythe or hook and properly trimming and shaping up our hedge fence first in 



