93 



top, and with sides neatly trimmed, form a fence, -which on our 

 great Western prairies would be invaluable." It would seem to 

 be equally adapted also to many localities in our own State. For 

 it is said that " as to its ca{)acity for enduring cold, when the 

 thermometer, one night in 1835, stood from 15° to 20° below zero, 

 I remember no remarkable injury done to the hedge, — then only 

 four years old. In 1836, with temperature 6° or 7° below zero, 

 some plants, on high ground and badly exposed, were slightly in- 

 jured, — caused in part by the loss of earth and shelter from the 

 roots. Taught by this experience, I think the plant will flourish 

 in countries where the cold is severe, if planted on level lands. It 

 is readily raised from cuttings, but as it sends up shoots while 

 quite young, a hedge may soon be propagated from rooted plants. 

 A single row of cuttings is (juite sufficient for all the minor divisions 

 of a farm ; yet there should be double rows where a substantial 

 fence is required." 



The Committee, considering Mr. Billings' hedge as, in every 

 respect, worthy of special commendation, unanimously award to 

 him the Society's first premium of ten dollars. 

 For the Committee, 



CHARLES C. SEWALL. 



MR. BILLINGS' STATEMENT. 



The Arbor Vitne hedge submitted to the inspection of the Commit- 

 tee is about 1100 feet in length. It was set, one third part in 

 May, 1856, one third iu May, 1857, and the balance in May, 

 1858. 



The plants were brought, when quite small, from Maine. They 

 stood in my nursery, say, five years, and from thence, were trans- 

 planted into their present location. 



The whole were set under the supervision of that excellent, 

 practical gardener, Robert Watt, of this town, and have been 

 trimmed by hiui twice each year. The work of trimming has re- 

 quired one and a half day's time, each year. 



To answer an objection sometimes made to this sort of hedge, I 

 beg leave to say, that I have never lost a plant by the severity of 

 our winters. 



Joseph H. Billings. 



