200 HEDGES. 



to the privilege the hogs enjoy in that State, of running in 

 the woods in the autumn, and gathering acorns and green 

 food. 



When intended for pork, pigs are at the best age at six 

 or eight months ; but for bacon they must be brought to a full 

 size, which can only be done in ten or twelve months. For 

 bacon, the larger breeds of hogs are generally reared ; for 

 pork, the smaller varieties are selected. 



HEDGES. These fences are beginning to be used ex- 

 tensively in some parts of the United States, both as a nat- 

 ural defence against encroachments, and as ornaments to 

 wire-fences of small gardens. In England, the application of 

 hedges for public roads and private enclosures is so exten- 

 sive, that the linear extent has been supposed to be many 

 times the circumference of the whole earth. 



Hedges for mere ornament and shade are made of Ribes 

 sanguined, or Flowering Currant, of Tree Box, of Ivy and 

 other hardy climbers, of some species of the Buckthorn, and 

 of Arbor Vitas ; of this last there are some very fine exam- 

 ples in Jefferson County, Virginia. 



Hedges to exclude cattle and trespassers are made of the 

 common English Hawthorn (Cratcegus Oxyacantha) , and 

 different species of North American thorns of the same genus. 

 Among the numerous varieties of American Thorns is the 

 Cockspur Hawthorn (Cratcegus Crus-galli)-, this and its varie- 

 ties have fine glossy leaves of dark green. C. Pyracantha has 

 pure white flowers and brilliant red berries, which are abun- 

 dant enough to have given it the name in France of Buis- 

 son ardent, or the Burning Bush ; it grows well in many 

 parts of America, but perhaps is not native. It produces its 

 white blossoms after its third year, annually, in June, when 

 the American Hawthorn ( Cratcegus coccinea) is in bloom. 



It is best to choose for a hedge that kind of Hawthorn 



