On the Growth of iVhlle Thorn. 41 



merely that of cutting the roots into lengths and planting 

 them), that I was determined to make it known to the world, 

 and could think of no better method than communicating it 

 to vour society; and should you so far approve of this 

 method of raising thorns, as to think me entitled to any 

 honorary reward, f shall receive it with gratitude, hut shall 

 feel myself amply repaid for any trouble I have been at, 

 should you think it worthy a place in the next volume of 

 your Transactions. 



The method of raising the thorns from roots of the plant, 

 is as follows. 



I would advise every farmer to purchase a hundred or a 

 thousand thorns, according to the size of his farm, and plant 

 them in his orchard or garden, and when they have attained 

 the thickness of my three-year-old specimens, which is the 

 size I always prefer for planting in fences, let him take 

 them up and prune the roots in the manner I have pruned 

 the specimen sent you, from which he will upon an average 

 get ten or twelve cuttings from each plant, which is as good 

 as thorns of the same thickness; so that you will easily per- 

 ceive that in three years he will have a succession of plants 

 fit for use, which he may if he pleases increase tenfold every 

 time he takes them up. 



The spring (say in all April) is the best time to plant the 

 cuttings, which must be done in rows half a yard asunder, 

 and about four inches from each other in the row ; they 

 ought to be about four inches long, and planted with the 

 top one-fourth of an inch out of the ground, and well 

 fastened; otherwise they will not succeed so well. 



The reason why I prefer spring to autumn for planting 

 the roots, is, that were they to be planted in autumn, they 

 would not have got sufficient hold of the ground before the 

 frost set in, which would raise them all from the ground ; 

 and, if not entirely destroy the plants, would oblige the 

 farmer to plant them afresh. 



I have attached the produce of my three-year-old speci- 

 men to the plants it came from, cut in the way I always 

 practise; on the thick end of the root I make two, and on 



the 



