222 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



HEDGES 



NORFOLK. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



But one entry has been made for a premium, the present 

 year. By invitation of Mr. Francis Marsh, of Dedham, the 

 committee visited his grounds and inspected his hedges on the 

 7th of July. The visit afforded much pleasure, from the extent 

 of the hedges, the order in which they are kept, and their vig- 

 orous and healthful appearance. The length of Mr. Marsh's 

 hedges, which are of buckthorn, is nineteen hundred and twen- 

 ty-four feet. They are of different ages, and the plants nine 

 inches apart. That about his garden and house lot is the longest 

 in a continuous line, being eleven hundred and seventy-four feet. 

 A part of this has been set eleven years ; other parts, not so long. 

 The whole is in a fine condition, presenting, when in leaf, an 

 exceedingly pleasant object to the eye. Near this, and in full 

 view, on the road side, is a hedge one hundred and fifty feet in 

 length, inclosing a triangular space, in which stand several 

 beautiful maples. This hedge has been set eleven years, and is . 

 doing well, forming, together with the maples, an object very 

 agreeable to the sight. 



But the best of Mr. Marsh's hedges, and one which was viewed 

 with great admiration, remains to be noticed. It bounds his 

 lot on Court Street, and is in all six hundred feet in length in a 

 straight line. A part of this has been set but three years, and 

 three and a half feet high, wedge-shaped, the plants being in a 

 single row, as in all Mr. Marsh's hedges. The other part of 

 this hedge has been set thirteen years. From this, in summer, 

 when in leaf, it is difficult to take off the eye, so beautiful and 

 symmetrical is it. The sides are perfectly smooth, presenting 

 one dense, unbroken mass of foliage. It is three hundred and 

 fifty feet in length. The sides are sloping off, the hedge measur- 

 ing at the surface of the ground seven feet, and three feet across 



