The Fyracantha^ or evergreen-thorn. 51 



and more sorry that I have had no opportunity, though 

 long desired, to show a model of it in practice. 



Different soils, situations and circumstances, will 

 require a somewhat different mode in the application 

 of the Pyracantha. In the early stages of the business 

 of hedging, which is yet but beginning in this country, 

 no ingenious experimentalist ought to tye himself to 

 the opinions and practices of others that have gone be- 

 fore him ; but set his own skill and contrivance to 

 work, in order, if possible, to discover a still better 

 method. The writings and recommendations of others 

 are oftentimes not to be implicitly received. Infatu^ 

 ated, as it were, with the children of our own begets 

 ting, we see in our own inventions, beauties and per- 

 fections which no other eye can perceive. It is there- 

 fore prudent to adopt with caution, whatever is thus 

 brought forward for imitation. An essay on a small 

 scale, conducted widi attention, patience and perseve- 

 rance, where there are any doubts respecting the re- 

 sult, is always the safest ; and when successful, will do 

 more towards introducing the practice to a neighbour- 

 hood, than all that books or writings can perform. To 

 the enterprising, industrious and discerning agricultu- 

 ralists, in the various parts of the country where live 

 fences are becoming every day more and more indis- 

 pensable, it is unnecessary to say more in recommend- 

 ing them to try the Pyracantha, although something 

 more yet remains to be stated. 



In the year 1810, being about to publish a treatise 

 on hedging, which fell through for the want of sup- 

 port, a gentleman, friendly to the work, advised me to 

 read Dr. Anderson's Essays on rural subjects, before 



