The Pyracantha, or evergreen thorn. 49 



impenetrable armour, connected in one thorny mass 

 of defiance. 



But although I have now such a high opinion of the 

 Pyracantha, for live fences, I am not out of conceit of 

 the American hedge-thorn, as it is truly flir superior to 

 all the other species of hawthorns, that ever I have 

 seen, for the purpose of hedging. Other names have 

 also been invented lately for this plant, with what ho- 

 nesty of intention, I shall leave it to the consciences of 

 such geniuses to determine : it has been called by such 

 the Virginia thorn, the Washington thorn, and per- 

 haps by other names that I have not heard of; but 

 whicli I, as being the first who discovered its superior 

 properties as a hedge plant, and introduced it to pub- 

 lie notice, have long since distinguished by the name 

 of the American hedge-thorn. This plant is easily 

 known from all the other kinds of hawthorns, by its 

 commonly bearing large clusters of very small light 

 crimson coloured berries, each of which contains five 

 stones, and by its flowering in the month of June, 

 when all the other sorts have set their fruit. But nei- 

 ther hedges of this, nor of any other of the various na- 

 tive hawthorns, including the European hawthorn, (or 

 Cratagiis oxijcantha) also, can so easily or effectually 

 be made close at the bottom, as the Pyracantha. 



It is not such hedges as are generally seen in Bri- 

 tain, that will prove a sufficient security to us, against 

 the intrusion of hogs and other small domestic ani- 

 mals. Our larger cattle, also, being of necessity suf- 

 fered to range in woods, and unenclosed lands, at dis- 

 cretion, have every opportunity to find out, and break 

 through the weaker parts of our fences. It is there- 



voL. iir. g"^ 



