270 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AIMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



3'onr man}' intelligent correspondents if they know of a single 

 hedge that is stock proof? After a full and patient trial of the 

 Osage orange since its lirst introduction as a hedge plant, with 

 careful observation of the success obtained by others Avith it in 

 Iowa and Illinois, I am constrained to come to the conclusion that 

 the hedge system is totally unsuited to our condition. I am satis- 

 fied that the expenditure of money in attempting to make hedges 

 by our farmers out of the 0«age orange is a complete waste of 

 time, money, and labor. The money invested in attempts to make 

 hedges, would have supplied every farmer with a fine sugar maple 

 orchard, which would now yield enough sugar to furnish a full 

 sujiph^ of this invaluable necessar3\" 



Mr. N. C. Meeker said, this is one of the most important ques- 

 tions we can discuss. There are several States deeply interested 

 in hedging. They have no other means of fencing the great 

 praines. It is a damage to the people of Illinois and Iowa to tell 

 them that Osage orange will not make hedge. It will do so if 

 properly treated in the first instance, and taken care of afterwards. 

 If neglected the trees will grow thirty feet high. Like all other 

 hedge plants, it needs constant care. 



Mr. John Crane. — My brother fenced half a section of land in 

 Henry county. 111., with the Osage, Avhich is a perfect fence 

 against all stock. "When the plants were two years old, they 

 were frozen down to the ground. The dead brush was left stand- 

 ing, and made a partial fence, while the new shoots came up ten 

 times as thick as the old ones, makino- the hed<;c closer and bet- 

 ter. He has a ten-acre hog pasture fenced in this waj-, which 

 holds the animals l)etter than a board fence. xVlongside an or- 

 chard, it has been left to grow untrimnied, and is there thirty feet 

 high. It is a valual^le wind-screen. A machine for trimming 

 hedges has been invented, which will enable farmers to keep their 

 hedges in order. 



Mr. S. Edwards Todd. — There are miles of hedges in Onondaga 

 count}' made of English hawthorn, which have been in existence 

 more than forty years, and are perfect fences against all stock. 

 The Osage orange winter kills in that locality. 



Dr. Isaac P. Triml^le. — I have known miles ancl miles of haw- 

 thorn hedges in Delaware and Pennsylvania, which, after serving 

 the purpose some years, were destroyed by insects; first in gaps 

 that Vv'ere stopped by rails; then the intervening spaces of plants 

 were neglected, grew unsightly, were abandoned for a time, and 

 finally uprooted. Adjourned. 



