290 Farmers^ Miscellany. [Oct., 



sachusetts and New-York, and has been cultivated principally as 

 an ornamental shrub. It may be reared from the seed, or from 

 cuttings and layers. The situation in which it thrives best, is a 

 rich, moist soil, and where it may be rather shaded; but it still 

 grows and even thrives where currants can be cultivated. It is 

 highly recommended for hedges; and when designed for this pur- 

 pose, plants one year old are set in a row, nine inches apart; 

 this may be done in spring or autumn. The next spring, if set 

 in autumn, the plants may be clipped within six or seven inches 

 of the ground, for the purpose of obtaining a thick bottom. The 

 plants require to be kept free from weeds, and to be clipped once 

 a year. No plant bears this operation better, and it may be bent 

 into arches for arbors, or cut into any fantastic, whimsical shape, 

 which the ingenuity of the gardener may devise. Young plants 

 are tenacious of life, and hence bear transplanting and transport- 

 ation remarkably well. It has been trimmed in mid-winter, 

 without sensible injury, but had better be trimmed according to 

 the experience of Mr. Derby, in June, as then the hedge recovers 

 its beauty in a short time. 



Berberris (^Berberris vulgaris). A prejudice prevails in regard 

 to this plant, on the ground that it is a ge minator of rust and 

 mildew. The prejudice is without doubt entirely unfounded and 

 unjust. So long as it exists, however, it is a bar to its cultiva- 

 tion. Mr. Buckley of West Dresden, Yates county, informs us 

 that he is satisfied from personal observation that no reason for 

 the prejudice exists. It is unfortunate that it should, as it is a 

 fine, valuable shrub, produces a useful fruit and is well adapt- 

 ed for hedges. The barberry grows from ten to twenty feet high, 

 in many places on Long Island. It is upright in its growth, 

 with obovate ciliate leaves, or ciliate serrate. It has a yellow 

 blossom in May and June, on racemes, something like the cur- 

 rant, and in the autumn oval, red, acid berries, excellent for pre- 

 serves. Varieties exist as to the plant and the fruit it bears. It 

 may be easily propagated by seeds and suckers. It requires but 

 little culture, and it grows rapidly, so that in six or eight years 

 it has attained nearly its destined height. Its arrangement and 



