On Hedges. 295 
of the country do we see it attempted ; and frequently, 
after several years toil, it has been abandoned as a hope- 
less, or at least unprofitable effort. 
One of the great objects of an American farmer 
should be to compose his hedge entirely of an American 
plant.—Even if the white thorn, which may be import- 
ed from England, accorded better with our climate 
than from the experiments in the vicinity of Philadel- 
phia, I am inclined to think it does, the difficulties and 
expence of importation form sufficient reasons to re- 
ject it. 
I have on a small scale, made several experiments 
to raise a hedge, strong, handsome, and durable ; my 
wish was to raise from seed sown on the spot. [tried in 
the first instance the berries of the common cedar, and 
the next year the berries of the juniper, after finding that 
neither of them germinated, though the ground was well 
prepared, and care taken to keep it clear of weeds. I 
made another attempt with the cedar berries; endeavor- 
ing to prepare them by a treatment assimilated to the 
process which takes place in the stomach of birds; 
who are known to be the great propagators of these 
plants. —That is, I soaked them, for four or five hours, 
in warm water ; then putting them with sand in a bag, 
had it well shook, rubbed, and rolled for some time, and 
immediately put the berries in the ground. Of this I 
tried a furrow of a few yards only by way of experi- 
ment, but was equally unsuccessful. I tried (by advice) 
the pomace of a cyder-mill in the autumn; but I sus- 
pect the field mice, with which my place abounds, de- 
feated me in this case. The cuttings of the privet suc- 
ceeded ; but the privet forms rather a screen, than a 
