WINDBREAKS AND HEDGES 



But the very best deciduous hedge-fence has 

 proved to be the buckthorn, or blackthorn. This 

 plant is adaptable to shearing, and can easily be 

 kept in bounds. It is ornamental, and if it gets too 

 high, it can be cut down to the ground and started 

 afresh — which you cannot do with an evergreen. 

 If a fence is absolutely required, use wire or stone 

 by preference; but for a hedge fence, use either 

 buckthorn or gleditschia. There is a variety or 

 spore of the latter, without thorns. If this can be 

 secured in quantity, the hedge will be quite as solid 

 and fully as protective as if made of the thorny 

 sort. 



Beech and apple hedges will turn animals, but 

 will be more or less eaten by them. This does not 

 affect their value, but in the long run the growth is 

 made more dense. In the West and Southwest 

 the cockspur thorn is used very commonly and ef- 

 fectually for strong hedges. I have seen such 

 hedges grown over with wild grape vines; and in 

 other places dewberries were loading them with 

 fruit. 



While I would almost abandon hedge-fences, 

 I would wish to see a greatly increased use of 

 hedges for ornament, for shelters, for nooks, and for 



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