A CHAPTER ON HEDGES. 



347 



America, have made hedges of their old 

 favorite, the common English Hawthorn, 

 and given them every care and attention. 

 Here and there we see an instance of suc- 

 cess ; but it cannot be denied that, in the 

 main, there is no success. The English 

 Hawthorn is not adapted to our hot and 

 bright summers, and can never be success- 

 fully used for farm hedges.* 



But there are many species of native 

 Hawthorn scattered through our woods. 

 Will not these make good hedges ? We 

 answer, excellent ones — nothing can be 

 much better. Almost any of them are su- 

 perior to the foreign sort for our climate. 

 We have seen hedges of the two species 

 known in the nurseries as the Newcastle 

 thorn ( CratcBgics crus-galli) and the Wash- 

 ington thorn, {C.cordaia) that realized all we 

 could desire of a beautiful and effective ver- 

 dantless fence. 



A few j'^ears ago, therefore, we strongly 

 recommended these native thorns — we 

 hoped to see them planted in all parts of the 

 country. But we are forced to admit now 

 that there is a reason why we fear they will 

 never make permanent hedges for the coun- 

 try at large, and for farm purposes. 



This is their liability to be utterly de- 

 stroyed by that insect, so multiplied in many 

 parts of the country, the apple borer. 

 Wherever there are old orchards, this in- 

 sect sooner or later finds its way, and sooner 

 or later it will attack all the Hawthorns, 

 whether native or foreign, for they all be- 

 long to the same family as the apple tree, 

 and are all its favorite food. Fifteen years 

 ago, a person riding through the lower part 



* We know there are exceptions. AVe have ourselves 

 about 1000 feet of excellent hedge of this plant. And we saw, 

 with great satisfaction, last summer, on the fine farm of Mr. 

 Godfrey, near Geneva, N. Y., more than a mile of promising 

 young hedge of the English thorn. But the soil and climate 

 there, are peculiarly favorable. These are exceptions to thou- 

 sands of instances of total failure. 



of New-Jersey and Delaware, would have 

 been struck with the numerous and beauti- 

 ful hedges of Newcastle and Washington 

 thorns. Whole districts, in some parts, 

 were fenced with them, and nursery-men 

 could scarcely supply the demand for voung 

 plants. Now we learn that whole farms 

 have lost their hedges by the borer, which 

 in some places attacked them so suddenly, 

 perforating and girdling the stems near the 

 ground, that in two seasons, sometimes in- 

 deed in one, the hedge would be half 

 killed. Of course the planting of thorn 

 hedges is ahnost abandoned there, and we 

 are assured by growers of the plant in those 

 states, who frequently sold hundreds of 

 thousands, that there is now no demand 

 whatever for them.* 



We do not doubt that there are many 

 sections of the country where good Haw- 

 thorn hedges of the best native species, may 

 be grown. In some places this fatal foe to 

 it nxs^Y never appear — though it follows 

 closely in the steps of every careless or- 

 chardist. In gardens where insects are 

 closely watched, it is not very difficult to 

 prevent their ravages upon the thorn plants. 

 But what we mean now to point out as dis- 

 tinctly as possible, is this — that no species 

 of Hawthorn, or Cralagus, is likely ever to 

 become a hedge plant of general use and 

 value to farmers in America. 



What we v\'ant in a hedge plant for this 

 country is, vigor, hardiness, longevity, and 

 a sap and bark either offensive, or offering 

 no temptations to any destructive insects. 

 Are there such plants ? We think we may 

 now, after the matter has been pretty tho- 

 roughly tested, answer yes ; and name the 



* We recall to mind an instance on the Hudson, where 

 three years ago we saw a very beautiful hedge of the New- 

 castle thorn — almost as handsome in its glo.«y foliage as Holly 

 itself During tiie past summer we again beheld it, nearly 

 destroyed by the insidious attacks of the borer. 



