82 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



Maecb i:5, 1915. 



because of the rapiditj with which mosl woods rot in 

 a warm climate. 



These are the principal practical objections bo the 

 erection of < ncl nd it will be useful now to see 



what ways there are of eliminating some of the 

 difficulties on which the objections are based, as well as 

 what corresponding advantages there may be in favour 

 of enclosures. The first point, which had reference to 

 the cost of upkeep of hedges, is a very vital one, but u 

 must be tar.d from the point of view that the 

 advantages obtained in other ways will counterbalance 

 the cost of erection and expenses of upkeep. Coming 

 to soil effects, the rool action of hedges, resulting in 

 loss of soil moisture for some yards within the enclosed 

 area, can be lessened by trenching. This will servi a 

 double function of drain, and barrier to the extension of 

 roots. Trenching should not be carried out, however, 

 tn full extent until the young hedge has Inc. him 

 thoroughly established. The next point is the question 

 of the space occupied by hedges. The gravity of this 

 objection depends largelj upon what kind of hedges it 

 is intended to grow. Some'hedges are tar bulkier than 

 others. Information on the plants useful for hedge- 

 making will lie given later. As regards the harbouring 

 of pests and diseases, another practical point commonly 

 raised 1>\ the planter, it would se^m that hedges are no 

 worse in this respect than the headlands to the fields. 

 which at the present time are often clothed with 



Weeds. 



We now come to the actual advantages of hedges. 

 In the first place thej constitute an efficient wind-break. 



The loss of moisture from the soil by increased 

 evaporation due to the action of wind isprobably just, 

 as great, if not greater than the loss of moist are through 

 the root action of hedges. Then protection from wind 

 improves tin- development of tin- growing crops them- 

 selves. It is hardly necessary in add that hedges save 

 fields and gardens from the depredations of stock, if the 

 hedges are constructed <•! a proper material: in the 

 same connexion there is also their function in regard 

 to human trespassers. Finally hedges are ornamental: 

 'hey give a neat appearance to the estate or -mall 

 holding, and eiisun a considerable amounl of privacy 

 which would he impossible in their absence. 



Leaving these practical considerations, we now come 



to another of a more abstract, though none the less 

 important kind. \ general impression seems to prevail 



in the West Indies that the protection of property is 

 i direct function of the law. This misconception 



is probably responsible for much of the apathy dis- 

 played ill regard to the election of enclosures. It. 

 not lie loo well realized that the direct function 

 of the law is to detect and punish crime, Pre- 

 ventidh of crime is only indirectly the function of 

 law: it behoves the individual to protect his own 

 property. Praedial larceny is admittedly a serious 

 offence, and it should be heavilj penalized; hut i 

 only fair to remember that the opportunities for com- 

 mitting it in the West Indie- are very ample. The 

 ar t the law is never, even under the best cir- 

 cumstance-, sufficienl to pr< vent trespassing and theft. 

 This i- recognized even in tin- great cities with their 

 higliK efficient police and detective tores. To make 



this clearer, we may bring to the reader's notice the 

 conditions of insurance against hut clary, where 

 Company will not agree to pay up the cost of stolen 

 goods unless the house has been actually broken in 

 It would appeal that tin- only effort made at present 

 in most of these colonies to protect crops and stock is 

 through the employment of watchmen. This method 

 is apparently considered more efficient and economical 

 than the establishment of impenetrable barriers. Such 

 a view is scarcely supported by practical experii 



It is important to hear in mind that what has 

 been said applies to huge and -mall owners alike. In 

 most cases it is the peasant ow tier who feels the loss 



greatest, and it i- especially in his interests to prot 

 property by means oi hedges and fences. If the 

 watchman system wereefficient and practicable, it ought 

 not to he necessary to have to suggest in this way an 

 alternative for an owner who lives practically in the 

 middle of his own few rods of land. It may he argued h\ 

 those who are not in sympathy with the proposal, that, 

 trespassing is unpreventible in this way. They will 

 at any rate admit that the psycological effect of an 

 enclosure would exercise a restraining influence. 



Taking all the views expressed into consideration, 

 it would appear reasonable to conclude that the 

 establishment of enclosures is needed under some 

 circumstances in the West Indies. It may not he 

 futile to endeavour to strengthen this view by point- 

 ing out the importance of fences In regard to a rather 

 different aspect of the subject, namely, the profitable 

 management of live stock. Reference to veterinary 

 reports which have appeared from time to tune will 

 show that the desirability of fencing pastures is very 

 great in order to prevent the dissemination of disease, 

 including tick- and other animal parasites Some 

 pa-lure- an- always more liable to contain infection 



