100 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



staves go by the million to France annually; walnut, oak, maple and pine in 

 large quantities to England, and docking timber to Ciiina and Japan. 



From tlic foregoing facts and figures, we come to the conclusion that before 

 another generation has passed away the State of Michigan will be entirely de- 

 nuded of its beautiful and valuable forests. What, then, shall we do to re- 

 place and rebuild our present fences? I am of the opinion tliat we should 

 commence immediately to grow live fence. Its cheapness, its' durability, and 

 its perfection and beauty demand its almost universal adoption where fences 

 are to be permanent. The expense of enclosing a farm with a hedge is less 

 than one-half what it is with timber, Avhile they rot in a few years, the hedge 

 will grow better for many years, and all the time, in winter and summer, iu 

 storm and calm, remain a protection and ornament to the farm, and will prob- 

 ably endure for generations. Experience and observation has shown us that 

 there is no better plant for this latitude, where a fence is wanted for protection, 

 shelter, and ornament, than the Madura, or osago orange. The maclura is 

 a free grower, with formidable and numerous strong and sharp thorns ; it will 

 not spread and will bear repeated and severe trimming, all of which qualities 

 are necessary in a hedge plant. As it is much cheaper to purchase the plants 

 for setting in the hedge row than to raise them from the seed, most farmers 

 do not attempt to grow them. After preparing the ground by plowing a back- 

 furrow about ten feet wide, and cultivating in such a manner as to have it in 

 good condition for planting corn, you are ready to plant the hedge. Stretch a 

 line along the center of the plowing exactly where you want the fence, then 

 select those plants which are of uniform size, cut off the tops close, or within 

 two inches of the yellow or root bark, leaving the root eight or ten inches long, 

 then with a clean, sharp spade or dibble make an opening in the ground and 

 insert the plants therein, close to the line, about an inch deeper than they 

 stood in the nurser}^, and not less than twelve inches apart in the row, packing 

 the earth firmly around every plant. To facilitate this operation you may take 

 a board five inches wide and one inch thick, around Avhich wind your line 

 smoothly until you have used five or six rods, paint the cord along the center 

 of one edge of the board, and the line is ready for use. In setting the hedge 

 place a plant against every paint mark, and you have sixteen plants in every 

 rod, which will cost you about four cents, and it is said an able, active man 

 will set a half a mile in a day, or 2,560 plants. After planting as above 

 directed, the hedge should be carefully cultivated and kept clear of grass and 

 weeds until it is at least three feet wide at the base and four and one-half or 

 five feet high. In the spring of the second year all vacancies should be filled 

 with plants of a greater age and better size than those iu the hedge row, and 

 at the same time the entire hedge cut off within at least two inches of the 

 ground. This can be well done with a sharp mower. After this cut off the 

 strongest plants so as to keep the growth of all equal and of the same height, 

 and continue to do this two or three times every year until you have the most 

 perfect fence that ever adorned a landscape. If a row or two of potatoes or 

 turnips are planted on each side of the hedge they will generally pay for culti- 

 vating without injuring its growth. 



Our agricultural societies ought to give a premium for the best hedge. 

 Hedges on lines between farms would prevent much litigation, encourage mor- 

 ality, and in some instances, perhaps, lessen profanity. Every farmer ought 

 to try the experiment with a few rods, and when all have permanent fences 

 the leak is stopped that prevents the farmer's cup of bliss from running over. 



