MARCH. 



125 



consideiably below this. It requires, to be sure, a good deal 

 of cutting, the first year or .two, to get it into proper shape, 

 but it makes a beautiful hedge, very compact and close ; but 

 without proper cutting it is useless to plant it for the purpose 

 of a fence. 



Honey Locust. — This is one of the most valuable plants 

 that I have tried, for making a strong, durable, and lasting 

 hedge. Nothing will attempt to break through it when once 

 it gets up four or five feet high. This also requires cutting 

 twice in the season, until it grows large enough ; one cutting 

 afterwards will answer for farm hedges ; but, where neatness 

 is an object, cutting twice will add greatly to its appearance. 

 I have seen a very durable fence of this, made by planting 

 six inches apart, and allowing them to grow without cutting, 

 for five or six years, until the plants become trees eight or 

 ten feet high, and then cutting them down to five feet, which 

 gives a line fence at once, and by cutting in the side branches 

 will last a life time. This plan would not be advisable for 

 hedges in general, but with this plant it is an exception to 

 the general rule. This method I would only recommend, 

 however, for farm hedges, where the saving of labor will be 

 considerable. 



Buckthorn. — This '^lakes a very compact hedge and very 

 hardy, and for an ornamental fence answers the purpose per- 

 fectly well. It is too deficient in spines, however, which the 

 two former are so well armed with, to make it impregnable 

 to cattle. 



Other Hedge Plants. — The Hawthorn, so generally cul- 

 tivated in Europe for hedges, is not well adapted for that 

 purpose here. It is liable to lose its foliage early in the sea- 

 son. It is also subject to be bored by the worm at the rootSj 

 which is sure to destroy it, otherwise it would make a very 

 good hedge, and looks remarkably well in the early part of 

 the season. Privet is also planted extensively for ornamental 

 hedges. This plant has a very fine appearance, particularly 

 early in the spring, and through the fall months, holding its 

 foliage very late. It has a very cheerful, pleasant look about 

 it when all other deciduous hedges have become naked. 



