MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 155 



prepared. These should be not less than ten inclies or a foot in length, and 

 from one-lialf to tliree-quarters of an inch in diameter. 



Another question here comes up, whether these cuttings should be planted 

 out in the line of hedge at once, or wliether they should be grown and rooted 

 for a season previous to planting in this way. This depends upon the nature 

 of the soil and the season, for if there were a month or two of hot, dry 

 weather before the cuttings get fully rooted, a number of these might fail, and 

 so cause a blank in the line of fence, which would have to be made up, as a 

 matter of necessity, with rooted plants. It would, therefore, on the whole, 

 bo more safe, and the hedge would also come sooner to perfection, if the 

 cuttings, previous to their setting out in place, were rooted. In this latter 

 case, if the ground is all prepared and in good order, the most expeditious 

 way would be to draw a deep furrow with the plough along where the line of 

 hedge is intended, and then set in the rooted plants at the distance of a foot 

 apart, when the clay could be turned back on the roots eitlier with the 

 plough or the spade, and then follow this with a good tread of the foot. If 

 the cuttings are planted at once they could be done in the same way as 

 mentioned above. I have no doubt but these tree willows would grow and 

 thrive well on all our prairie soils, and even on all lands where good wheat and 

 corn can be raised. But should it be found that on some of our dry upland 

 Boils tliey did not grow quite so readily, the Lombardy poplar, or even the 

 white oak, could be formed into a good fence. 



And there are several other trees which I could mention which, after being 

 established in the ground and cut over would send up a number of strong shoots. 

 All such, on the plan I am about to submit, are perfectly capable of being 

 constructed into a strong farm fence. The only difference would be that 

 plants grown from seeds would require more labor and expense previous to 

 planting; but this is the process in England and some other countries where 

 hedge fencing has been found indispensable to the success of the agricultural 

 interests, and there is no doubt but if there was once a want for such an article 

 in this country, the supply would soon be adequate to the demand. 



Having now mentioned a few trees suitable for hedging, I proceed to describe 

 the mode of cultivation that is necessary to grow the fence. After having 

 finished the planting, the next thing is to keep the ground clean by cultivating 

 on each side through the course of the summer. I think a cultivator could be 

 made and adjusted especially for this purpose. Any weeds that might be left 

 round the stems could be taken out with a lischt hoe and the hand. This cul- 

 tivation sliould be kept up and the plants encouraged to grow as strong as pos- 

 sible for two or three years. Let there be no cutting of the tops, except it may 

 be a little at the sides to allow a free cultivation. My object in this is to have 

 a strong growth of top in order that there may be a corresponding growth of 

 root. These, according to the laws of vegetable physiology, act and react 

 upon each other, so that the growth of the whole plant is greatly strengthened 

 and encouraged. Tiie next process in the order of operations is the cutting. 

 This should be done in spring, with a hedge knife for the purpose, having a 

 handle of two to three feet in length. These are of various shapes and sizes, 

 suited for cutting and dressing a hedge in all its different stages of growth. The 

 tree or plant is then cut off with this implement from six inches to one foot 

 from tiie ground, and with a slanting cut upward. Below this cut there will 

 soon come out a number of stronsr branches, which in due time will form the 

 frame work of the future hedge. It might be well at first not to allow any 



