CRITIQUE ON NOVEMBER HORTICULTURIST. 



313 



patch! and standing a scathed and bleach 

 ing trunk, with outstretched arms, invok- 

 ing a malediction on the brutality which 

 thus worked their destruction. 



It is refreshing amidst such barbarity to 

 find one who, like Mr. Hammond, has the 

 good taste not only to preserve what is al- 

 ready grown, but thus vigorously to plant 

 anew, and give grace and beauty to a re- 

 gion so much requiring it. 



Invisible Wire Fe?icts. — Yes, and visible 

 ones too, I trust, will soon begin to appear 

 in this rail-fence and stone-wall distracted 

 country of ours. Why it is that in the 

 grounds of our wealthy country residents, 

 they have not long ago been adopted, is 

 passing strange. In all the long catalogue 

 of farm, park, lawn and garden enclosures, 

 there is nothing equal to it. But before I 

 begin on this subject, a word or two about 

 fences in general. We have at least three 

 limes the fencing in this country that is 

 necessary ; and pretty much all owing to 

 our beautiful system of "universal suf- 

 frage" — not of the people, Mr. Editor, but 

 <if the quadrupeds, pigs, cattle, sheep, and 

 horses ; to say nothing of those charming 

 every-day nuisances called geese, which 

 "nobody" owns when in. mischief, but 

 v/hich every body who prefers to use the 

 land of other people instead of his own, 

 turns into the highway. And we " patrio- 

 tic and independent Americans," haven't 

 independence and self-interest enough to 

 compel those who keep to take care of them. 

 This evil, however, will in time correct it- 

 self. We cannot much longer bear the ex- 

 pense of this superfluous fencing. In some 

 sections of our country it is already heavily 

 felt, and better substitutes than rail, board 

 or stone fences are sought. That wire is 

 to become this substitute I have little doubt. 

 In hedges I have no sort of confidence, not that 

 they may not be cultivated, although our 

 Vol. iv. 23 



climate is generally too dry for them, 

 b at with the characteristic impatience of 

 Americans to wait for their growth, and 

 the continual changes that are taking place 

 in the ownership and division of real estate, 

 half the hedges, should they be planted, 

 will be rooted up outright, or ruined for 

 want of attention before grown into use ; 

 and notwithstanding all the discussions in 

 your paper and others on the subject, I have 

 little confidence in their practical adoption 

 in the United States. But in wire fences 

 and their fitness for all purposes of land di- 

 vision and enclosures, I have entire confi- 

 dence. Their economy and efficiency are 

 practically demonstrated by Mr. Sargent, 

 in a way that every one can understand, 

 and he is entitled to the thanks of your 

 readers, as he has mine in particular. It 

 is a fertile subject to discuss, and as he is so 

 lately returned from abroad where they are 

 much used, I trust he will pursue it to our 

 further edification. 



The substitution of wire fences for those 

 now in use, will give to every farm, park, 

 or lawn where they are introduced, a higher 

 value. The improvement will be incalcu- 

 lable. Instead of rickety, zig-zag rail and 

 board fences, and dilapidated stone walls 

 with their interminable attendants of brush, 

 briars and vermin, they will afford clean 

 cultivation, and save a great amount of la- 

 bor and waste now suffered by every one 

 who has them to support. 



The Madison Plum. — Quite right, Doc- 

 tor. No one can better discover a good 

 plum than yourself, or dress out a finer 

 story about it when discovered. I trust this 

 plum is an acquisition among our late va- 

 rieties, and when I next go up to Albany 

 in the plum season, I shall take it an espe- 

 cial favor to be gratified with a sight of it. 

 I have great confidence in your judgment 

 on such matters. 



