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On Live Fences. By John Taylor^ of Port Royal, 

 Caroline County ^ Virginia. 



\Tlie following communication from a distinguished 

 citizen, arid very intelligent and extensive cultivator, on 

 a subject highly interesting, is not only meritorious, as it 

 respects the execution of a plan on a scale so extetisive: 

 but affords a practical proof of the ease and profitable ef- 

 fect, with which other native productiojis may be used, as 

 substitutes for the thorn. This valuable paper will pass 

 tender the respectful notice of the Society, when Premi- 

 ums are the subject of consideration. In the mean time 

 it is entitled to their approbation and thanks; and cajmot 

 fail to recominend itself to imitation."] 



Read August 11th, 1807. 



About 12 years past, conceiving that cedar was well 

 adapted for live fences, I planted 10,000 on the inte- 

 rior declivity of the banks of ditches, cut in the outside 

 of fields (so that the cedars were within) two feet apart ; 

 but a removal of my residence compelled me to relin- 

 quish the experiment. The appearance of those cedars 

 at this time evinces, that by proper culture they might 

 have been formed into a good live fence. 



In 1799 I recommenced the experiment at the place 

 whereon I now live, by planting cedars round a stable 

 yard, containing about an acre, and in each succeeding 

 year along the ditches inclosing my farm ; so that now 

 they inclose an area of above six hundred acres, except 

 a part, the fence of which is a river. The distance 



