1846.] Fencing. 293 



to plant the slips so near together, that the trunks of the future 

 trees will become the main barrier to cattle. It then operates as 

 strong stakes driven into the ground. 



We have described very briefly in the foregoing pages the most 

 important trees which are cultivated for hedges. As different 

 parts of the United States differ in climate, soil, and other cir- 

 cumstances, it is important to ascertain what kinds may be re- 

 garded as best adapted to a given section of country. We can- 

 not state so clearly as we wush, the facts bearing upon the matter, 

 but observation has supplied us with a few, which may be useful 

 to some of our readers. In New England and New York there 

 is little necessity of planting hedges. A farmer may or he may 

 not; materials for fencing are sufficiently abundant and accessible 

 to supply the demands. It may, however, become a matter of 

 taste, and hence the inquiry will arise, what plant is sufficiently 

 hardy and at the same time ornamental to meet the case. In the 

 first place it is proper to say, that a hedge properly grown and 

 trimmed is really ornamental, but one imperfectly stocked and 

 but half trimmed is no ornament at all ; it is no better than hedge 

 fence behind straggling bushes. Therefore it must be settled be- 

 forehand that a good one only is worthy of a moment's thought. 



In New England and New York, leaving out of the catalogue 

 the foreign hawthorn, the Cratcegus crus-galli, or common thorn, 

 and the shepherdia seem to be the best adapted to the soil and 

 climate. To these may be added the Ilex opaca, for the milder 

 and more maritime parts of New England, and the shepherdia for 

 western New York. The privet grows well in Berkshire county 

 and hence for orna:menting the grounds in the vicinity of dwell- 

 ings, for concealing or covering naked walls, &c., may be em- 

 ployed at will The shepherdia is a western plant, and one of 

 the finest shrubs our country produces, and this we should recom- 

 mend for the west as superior both for ordinary fencing and or- 

 namental hedging. It seems to delight in rather sheltered and 

 warm, dry exposures, on the high banks of rivers and lakes. It 

 may be it will not do as well on the prairies as we expect. A 

 hedge formed of the shepherdia, with the gate-ways arched and 



