THE BARBERRY IN IOWA 197 



The third period overlaps the second because men Hke Professor 

 Budd spoke of its cuHnary use and its value from an ornamental 

 standpoint. 



Most of the older bushes in the state go back to the time when 

 farmers began to plant it to turn stock, during the day of hedge 

 planting, which occurred in Iowa during the late sixties and seven- 

 ties. A statement by Thomas J. Brooks of Indiana, used in the 

 Iowa Homestead and Western Farm Journal, is of interest in this 

 connection. He said^ "Seven years ago two barberry bushes were 

 sent to me at my request, as I wanted my children to see them 

 and taste the fruit. Three years ago I became interested in the 

 plant as a hedge plant. These plants are now from six to seven 

 feet high and each plant has sent up from its stool some thirty stalks." 

 Mark Miller, who was then the editor of the Iowa Homestead and a 

 horticulturist, said "We are interested in this new hedge plant and 

 hope to make other experiments." Professor J. L. Budd mentions 

 the use of the barberry as a hedge plant in his report on hedges." 

 A year later, before the Southeastern Horticultural Society several 

 hedge plants are mentioned," but not the barberry. Mr. D. W. 

 Adams, ^ in the report as secretary of the Iowa State Horticultural 

 Society in 1870, mentions the use of the barberry as a living fence. 

 He says the results are not satisfactory. Hon. J. R. Dodge in 1868" 

 recommended the purple leaved barberry to introduce variety. In 

 the report on hedges Prof. J. L. Budd,^° chairman of the hedge com- 

 mittee, makes a lengthy report on the use of the Osage orange, buck- 

 thorn, honey locust, scarlet or white thorn, Norway spruce, arbor 

 vitse and barberry. On the barberry he makes the following com- 

 ment : "The English barberry, now found wild in New England 

 is the plant used for hedging. The American barberry (Berhcris 

 canadensis) is not strong enough in species or habit of growth. 

 For a yard fence near the house in country and town, the barberry 

 makes a very beautiful and useful hedge, though not strong enough 

 for an outside fence until, at least, twelve years old, without wdres 

 drawn through it. After six years growth, with two wires, it 

 can be relied upon. When loaded in the fall with a crop of its 

 oblong scarlet berries, it is truly the ornamental of deciduous hedges. 

 The fruit is also useful for culinary purposes. Many think the 

 fruit equal to cranberries." 



'■Iowa Homestead and Western Farm Journal, March 20, 1867, copied from 

 the Northwest Farmer. 



"Meeting- of Iowa State Horticultural Society, June 12, 1870, Iowa Home- 

 stead and Western Farm Journal 16: No. 4. 



'Rep. la. State Agrl. Soc. 1871; 330. 



*Rep. la. State Hort. Soc. 1871; 111. 



"Rep. U. S. Dept. of Agrl. 1S6S; 197. 

 I lORep. la. State Hort. Soc. 1870; 68-77. 



