240 Dr. H. F. C. Cleghom on the Hedge Plants of India. 



Sir Hans Sloane mentions in his ' History of Jamaica ' that, 

 *'In the Island of St. Cristopher, when it was to be divided 

 between EngUsh and French, it was ordered by the consent of 

 the two nations that there should be planted three rows of the 

 Opuntia tuna as a boundary, thinking these the strongest forti- 

 fication to hinder the attempts of one another in cases of war." 

 The Grecian traveller, Clarke, has suggested that in some lati- 

 tudes it might serve as an outwork for fortifications ; since, as 

 he says, " artillery has no effect upon it; pioneers cannot approach 

 it; fire will not act upon it; and neither infantry nor cavalry 

 can traverse it." 



In fact in the Spanish colonies in America this plant is con- 

 sidered as a very important means of military defence, and is 

 propagated constantly around fortifications with that intent. 

 Desfontaines in his ' Flora Atlantica ' remarks of 0. tuna : " Mu- 

 nimentum hortorum et domorum impenetrabile." 



We object to the prickly pear from its unsightly appearance, 

 "the enormous area it covers, and the harbourage of every 

 variety of filth and vermin." It should only be employed when 

 none of the plants aftermentioned will grow. The cantonments 

 of Hurryhur and French Rocks have been greatly improved by 

 the substitution of neatly kept milk-hedges for the prickly pear, 

 which formerly deformed them. The bandicoot rat [Mus ma- 

 laharicus, Shaw, M. giganteus, Hardwicke), a most destructive 

 animal, is partial to hedges of the Opuntia and Agave, burrows 

 under them to a great depth, and roots up the seeds of garden 

 plants sown near its haunts. 



Pereskia aculeata (Haw.), the West Indian goosebeiTy, grows 

 readily, and seems likewise well adapted for hedges. 



Agave americana, L. 



A. Cantula, Rox. 



Fourcroya Cantula, Haw. 



[Figured in Lindley's Vegetable Kingdom, 2nd ed.] 



The American Agave. Native name : Wilaeete Ananas, i. e. English 

 Pine Apple. Sans. Kantula. 



Introduced from America. 



In some parts the hedges are formed almost exclusively of this 

 stately aloe-looking plant, which is both oi'namental and useful. 

 The flower-stalks rise to the height of 15 to 30 feet, when ten 

 or twelve years old, and are employed in roofing. It flowers in 

 the rains. 



The long sheathing leaves arc sometimes macerated for the 

 fibres, which arc separated by beating on stones, and form 



