FARMER'S ASSISTANT, 15! 



ing grain, and is even beneficial to that of grassj the hedge 

 may be suffered to grow up as high as it will. 



In about thirty years after pluming, it will reach the full 

 meridian of its growth ; when the whole may be cut down, 

 at the height of about five feet from the ground, and then 

 the stumps, thus left, will stand and serve as an impenetra- 

 ble fence for as much as fifteen years more; giving about 

 forty years as the length of time which that growth of 

 locust will serve the purpose of a fence. 



Mr. Kirk says that, on cuting- the locust down, a new 

 growth of sprouts will start up in abundance; from which 

 sufficient may be selected for training up a new hedge, to 

 supply the place of the stumps when they shall have 

 failed. 



If the foregoing may be safely estimated, as the result to 

 be expected from the culture of locust, for hedges, we 

 should be disposed to place this tree in the first rank, as 

 well for making hedges as for other useful purposes. It 

 forms a timber of the first rate for every use, where hard- 

 ness, durability, and strength are required: It is also rapid 

 in its growth, and excclent for fuel 



We should be disposed to say that a farm of common 

 size, with locust cultivated for its hedges, would cifford, 

 from the growth of these, a sufficiency of fuel for such 

 farm, if managed in an economical way. 



See FUEL, and WARMING OF ROOMS. 

 Beside timber for most of the necessary purposes for 

 carrying on the business of the farm. 



The method pursued by Mr. Kirk< for making the seeds 

 of the locust germinate, is to put them in water, hot 

 enough to scald a Hog, and to let them remain in this till 

 the water is cooled ; when they are to be immediately 

 planted, in a bed well prepared for the purpose, in rows 

 or drills, at the distance of about eighteen inches between 

 each drill. 



The young plants are to be hoed, and kept clear of 

 weeds,- till the end of the second year, and in the Spring 

 of the third they are to be set out in the hedge. The 

 planting of the seeds, and the above-mentioned previous 

 preparation for the purpose, is to be at the time when 

 garden-seeds are usually commited to the ground in the 

 Spring. While growing in the rows or drills they should 

 stand four or five inches apart. 



Mr. Taylor, of Caroline, Virginia, makes his hedges of 

 cedar; and he says that, in seven years, a hedge made of 

 this tree becomes as close, from bottom to top, as box, of a 

 breadth no* exceeding four feet; and that it is more likely 

 to prove effectual against Hogs, than any of the family o 



