No. 85 .J 317 



hence we see in almost every neighborhood the sickly remains of one 

 or more unsuccessful experiments of this kind. 



But it will be asked, what is to be done 1 Can we not grow good 

 thorn hedges in this country 1 Certainly we can ; but before we can 

 succeed in this, as in many other plans, we must pay more attention 

 to the lessons which nature teaches. While we have been transport- 

 ing thorn plants from a country thousands of miles distant, and a cli- 

 mate very different from our own, nature, though unheeded, has 

 been pointing us to the numerous varieties indigenous to our soil and 

 climate, and every way well suited for the purpose. 



Some cultivators discovered this mistake many years ago, and have 

 now fine thrifty hedges of the American thorn. The best specimens 

 of this kind that I have seen in the State of New-York, are around 

 the beautiful nursery grounds of A. J. Downing, Esq., at Newburgh. 

 There may be seen two species of American, together with the Eng- 

 lish, all growing under the same circumstances, and clearly exhibit- 

 ing the superiority of the former, I was there the latter part of last 

 summer, and the hedge formed of English thorn was quite brown and 

 unsightly from loss of foliage, except where shaded by trees, while 

 that formed of the American species looked green and healthy. From 

 his experience and observation, Mr. Downing expressed his most de- 

 cided conviction that the English thorn was wholly unsuited to our 

 climate ; and at my request he afterwards gave me his views by letter 

 on the subject of thorn hedges generally, which coming from such a 

 source, and being the result of actual experience, I am convinced it 

 will be read with interest ; it is therefore subjoined. 



I have also received through the kindness of Dr. Thompson of 

 Wilmington, (Del.,) a very full and satisfactory letter on this subject, 

 from that distinguished writer and practical as well as scientific culti- 

 vator. Dr. Darlington of Chester county, (Pa. :) and a brief letter 

 on the same subject from Dr. Gibbons of Delaware. These writers 

 are men of much experience in these matters, and their views on this, 

 or any other subject relating to horticulture, botany, &c., cannot fail 

 to be read with interest by all concerned in such affairs. 



I was induced to ask such information from Dr. Thompson, by ob- 

 serving a large number of hedges formed of the American thorn, in 

 the vicinity of Wilmington while there last fall, at the time of the ex- 

 hibition of the Newcastle County Agricultural Society, of which he is 

 president ; and believing that these letters contain valuable informa- 

 tion, and are all deserving of a place in the volume of Transactions, 

 I have forwarded them, for the purpose of having them thus preserv- 

 ed and presented to the public. 



M. B. BATEHAM. 



Columbus J {Ohio,) 1845. 



