134 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Osage Orange, or Madura, a far more rapid and vigorous 

 grower, but which, according to the prevailing impression, is 

 not sufficiently hardy to be relied upon for this climate ; but 

 with the buckthorn, or the acacia, which is of somewhat more 

 rapid growth, it would be idle to expect, in any average soil, 

 to effect this result in less than six or eight years at the least. 



Whoever wishes to make a trial of raising a hedge can readily 

 do it. The plants of either of these two kinds are raised from 

 the seed with great facility. The seed should be sown in well- 

 prepared soil, in drills or rows, two feet apart or thereabouts, 

 and the plants thinned out in the row, so as to allow each plant 

 left a fair opportunity for a start. If carefully cultivated through 

 the season the plants will be suitable to transfer to the hedge- 

 row the next spring. When set out it is desirable that they be 

 as nearly as possible of uniform size and strength, and be all 

 good, strong, vigorous plants. 



The bed in which the hedge-row is to stand should of course 

 be suitably prepared in advance. For this purpose a strip of 

 ground, at least eight or ten feet in width, should be ploughed 

 to a liberal depth, and, unless the soil is particularly good, gen- 

 erously enriched ; and this cultivation and preparation should 

 be continued until the soil has become well mellowed and 

 enriched, and, as nearly as may be, of uniform quality and 

 condition along the whole line ; and when the plants are to be 

 set, a bed, say three feet in width, should be spaded or other- 

 wise thoroughly mellowed up, along where they are to stand. 



Charles Mason. 



FOREST TREES. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



There was but one entry for the premiums offered. That 

 was by W. B. Hosmer, of Leominster. 



Your Committee examined the grove of Mr. Hosmer, and 

 were pleased with the thrifty appearance of the pines he had 

 raised. Those that were transplanted were the most uniform 

 in size and distance. Your Committee think Mr. Hosmer made 



