2O HEDGES, WINDBREAKS., SHELTERS, ETC. 



twenty to twenty- four inches thick by sowing the 

 acorns in three parallel rows. They would be per- 

 fected in a short time, would be agreeable to the eye, 

 and would probably be sufficient to prevent the pass- 

 age of horses and cows." The plant is an abundant 

 bearer of seed, yet I do not know that the suggestion 

 of Michaux has been put to test. But nature has 

 used the scrub oak very freely in making wild hedges 

 of great beauty. The chief advantage of such sug- 

 gestions is to teach us to keep our eyes open to the 

 possibilities about us, and be ready to put an old 

 thing to a new use. A wide-awake mind is never at a 

 loss to find a chance to exercise a creative purpose. A 

 person blind to nature is always compelled to follow 

 in old routine tracks, and so misses some of the finest 

 opportunities that nature affords him. 



Among the newer shrubs and trees available for 

 hedges we may enumerate the Siberian Pea tree 

 (Caragana arborescens). This is a small tree, grow- 

 ing from fifteen to eighteen feet in hight, but it bears 

 pruning admirably well. It is hardy even to the very 

 northern limits of our states and Canada, at the same 

 time endures severe drouths. I think this will prove 

 to be a desirable addition to our hedge plants. The 

 Kei apple is another importation of our Department 

 of Agriculture which promises to be of considerable 

 use to us. It is the best South African hedge plant ; 

 and becomes, if untrimmed, only a tall shrub. It 

 may be ranked among the strictly ornamental 

 hedge plants. 



However, I do not myself believe there is anj 

 deciduous plant anywhere near equal to the buck- 

 thorn (or black thorn) for universal use as a decidu- 



