168 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



May 15, 1909:. 



HEDGES AND HEDGE PLANTS AT 

 ANTIGUA. 

 Verj' few hedges are in existence in Antigua, and 

 with the purpose of giving an object-lesson to planters 

 in this direction, successful effort.'-; have been made to 

 develop growing fences round the Exijeriuient Station 

 at Skerrett's. The plants mentioned which appear to 

 be especially satisfactory for the purpose of the 

 establishment of hedges are the bread-and-cheese 

 {PitlH'colohlum Ungids^ati\ the Barbados cherry 

 {Mdlpighia ylahrii), and the logwood {Hnrmato.rylon 

 campcvliidnum). Since the hedges at Skerrett's have 

 attracted considerable attention at Antigua a number of 

 enquiries have been received by the Cuiator (Mr. T. 

 Jackson), and it would appear that many people in the 

 island are intending to foil w- the exam)'>le thus started 

 and to plant hedges on th' irown properties. Mr. Jack- 

 son recently forwarded to his Department some notes 

 on hedge plants and he<i^e planting, wh ch may be of 

 general interest outside /intigua. 



In addition to the three plants already named, Mr. Jack- 

 son mentions the hil)iscus, the pomegranate (Piinim 

 (/ranaliim), Agane AmcricaiM, Ai/ni'c vim'pani, wild coffee 

 '(Clcrodemh-ou andeatum), and .several species of bamboo, all 

 of which would be useful in the establishment of fence.s. 



Apart from the use of these plants for larger hedges, 

 trials made at the Antigua Botanic Station have shown that 

 at least one or two of them can be utilized for the formation 

 of low ornamental borders after the manner in which low 

 ' box ' hedges are frequently employed in England. These 

 borders, when well cared for, .form an attractive feature in an 

 English garden, and in addition to their ornamental value, 

 serve a very useful purjjose in defining boundaries, and keep- 

 ing up the sides of walkes. Mr. .Jackson points out that the 

 bread-and-cheese jjlant, wli6n kept well trimmed, forms 

 a useful substitute for the ' box-edging ' referred to, and 

 there is no doubt that such dwarf boundaries (kept about 8 

 or 9 inches high) could be introduced into West Indian 

 gardens with striking effect. 



The ' bread-and-cheese ' hedge is established by sowing 

 .seeds on a border about 18 inches wide, the seeds being 

 I)lanted in drills from S to 4 inches deep. If a thick, rather 

 ■wide hedge is desired, two rows of seeds can be planted, the 

 rows being about 6 inches apart. When the young plants 

 are alwut 8 inches high they should be trimmed. The first 

 trimming should consist only of taking off the points of the 

 young plants so as to force them to grow from the bottom 

 and form a .shrubby undergrowth. If wet weather ensues, the 

 next pruning .should be performed a few weeks after the first. 

 ♦Sub.se(piciit trimmings will be at the discretion of the 

 grower. •' 



As already mentioned, in addition to their ornamental 

 value as a dwarf hedge, these plants are ca|)ab]e of fornung 

 a useful boundary fence. The foliage is .somewhat liable to 

 be attacked by leaf-mining caterpillars, which disfigure it. 

 When so attacked, it .should be si)rayed with kerosene 

 emulsion. 



Another jiliint which can also be grown to foiin a dwarf 

 liedge is the logwood. It is not so satisfactory for this 

 purpose, however, as the brcad-and-chcese, on account 

 of the fact that its .shoots are .so nuicli sliffer and stronger 

 growing. The best dwarf hedges of logwood are grown on 

 very (loor .soil. On the other hand, if it is required to estab- 

 lish a fence for the purpose of keeping out stock, w< plant is 



more useful than tlj^ logwood, since it forms a thick service- 

 able hedge, which is almost impenetrable on account of the- 

 thorny growth. Planted around cultivated lands it would 

 certainly prove a formidable barrier against praedial larceny. 

 Like the bread-and-cheese, the logwood plants are best 

 established by sowing seed at the place where the hedge is to- ■ 

 be grown. 



Two other useful plants for stock-resisting fences are 

 the Barbados cherry and the pomegranate. The bright green 

 foliage of the former makes its appearance very handsome.. 

 The seeds of these plants should be sown in a nursery and 

 transplanted when the young plants are about 6 inches high. 



The pomegranfite makes a fine fence which can be- 

 established either hi- sowing seeds or planting cuttings. 



Persons who ai^e intending to plant hedges, which would. 

 at once be useful and ornamental, nught well utilize the 

 strong-growing hibiscus for the purpose. The best method 

 to establish a fence of this would be to transplant rooted' 

 cuttings. A furth^jr advantage in favour of this plant is 

 that the numerous varieties w-hich exist offer the grower 

 some scope for a colour scheme. 



The Bougainvillaea, it is well known, forms a fence of 

 highly ornamental appearance. Plants of this must be projH- 

 gated by cuttings or layers. In starting a hedge of this 

 descriiition the best plan would be first to e.stabli.sh a light 

 trellis work, which iwould serve as a support for the young, 

 plants. Later on when the trellis decays, the plants would 

 be able to support themselves. It is advisable that the 

 (juick -growing .shoots should be tied in, and that i)ruidng: 

 should be done freely. 



A plant which has given very satisfactory results in 

 Barbados and other islands for hedge purposes is the sweet 

 Yuae ('I'ri/JtriKia Auinntio/a). This, if kejit well trimmed, 

 forms a thick, bushy growth, which is ornamental, higlily 

 u.seful, and also quite capable of keejiing out stock and serving- 

 as a general protection to the enclosed area. The only- 

 drawback to the mortigeneral use of this plant for the purpose- 

 mentioned, is that its growth is very slow. 



FIBRE CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION. 



Arrangements have been made to hold a Fibre 

 Congress and Exhibition at Sourabaya, Java, in October 

 of next year, under the auspices of the Dutch E:tst 

 Indies Agricultural Syndicate, which has received 

 a substantial Government grant, and contributions 

 from private busiiiess firms in assistance. 



The Congress that is to be held will discuss the cultiva- 

 tion of fibre plants, and the extraction and preparation of 

 the fibre, on a conuntercial scale. A prominent place in the 

 programme will be given to the consideration of fibre plants 

 that are most suitable for cultivation on a large scale in the 

 tropics, e.g., Sisal hemp {Ai/inv ri</ida, var. .tisd/ann), w-hich 

 is especially ada|>terl for growth in dry countries, and Manila 

 hemp (.!/».<'» ti.rli/is), which produces a profitable crop ini 

 the more moist districts of tro])ical countries. 



There will be oh view at the same time an Exhibition of 

 fibre-producing plants; of the fibres manufactured therefonn, 

 and of the machinery used in preparatiim of the same. Various 

 medals, diplomas, and prizes will be oftcred for machinery 

 used in connexion With the fibre industry. The machines 

 sent in for competition will be required to work for 

 a .suflieient time before the Conunittee to show their capacity. 

 Special attention will be jiaid to this testing of machines^ 

 both as regards the extracticm and preparation of the fibre. 



