380 Horticultural Society Proceediyigs. [August, 



l0rtittiltttral SariBtH foruHnp. 



The Cincinnati Horticultural Society met on Fourtli street, July 12, 

 1856 ; John P. Foote, Esq., in the chair, G. Graham, Secretary. 



The following communication, from Prof J. B. Turner, of Jackson 

 ville, Illinois, was received, read, and ordered to be printed. 



LETTER ON HEDGES, FROM J. B. TURNER. 



Jacksonville, III., June 26, 1856. 



Dear Sir : — Your note of inquiry, respecting the effect of frost on 

 tlie Osage Orange, or Prairie Hedge-plant, as we choose to call it, is at 

 hand. You inquire also of my opinion of its value as a hedge-plant 

 for this country. 



In reply, I would say that I have some eight or ten miles of this 

 hedge on my own grounds, in all stages of its growth, from one to 

 seven years or more. My homestead here now has no other fence 

 around it or upon it, except a short piece of plank fence on one side 

 of my stockyard, the other three sides being inclosed with the hedge. 

 On my farm, near Hillsborough, I have set about six miles w^ithin the 

 past two years, and intend to clear all other fences from that as soon 

 as possible, although there is on the farm, which consists of nine hun- 

 dred acres, about one hundred of good oak timber, which has never 

 been cut, and never will be by me, for a fence. 



These facts, I suppose, will show my own practical estimate of the 

 value of the hedge. 



As regards frost, I have not seen a single plant injured by frost, in 

 this region, during the cold winter, nor yet heard of one, though in 

 the spring I handled several hundred thousand, besides what are on 

 jny own grounds. Still the winter killed to the ground many of my 

 pear, peach, and apple trees, which were six inches or more, though 

 standing close by the hedge ; so that it appears to stand the cold better 

 than I at first feared it would. 



I give 'myself no uneasiness about that now, for whenever we have 

 a winter hard enough to kill this hedge, I shall move out of the coun- 

 try ; I would as soon live in Greenland. 



We find no trouble in making a fence that will stop all sorts of 

 cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry; though I see many who attempt it fail. 



Yours truly, J. B. Turner. 



To "Wm. Stoms, Esq., Chairman of the Horticultural Committee of 

 Cincinnati Horticultural Socictij. 



