110 ON LIVE FENCES. 



much it would endure, 1 directed my gardener to cut it 

 down within four feet of the ground; this was done at 

 mid winter, and not without some misgivings on my own 

 part, and much discouraging advice from others; but it 

 leaved out as early in the spring as the other hedges, 

 and is now a mass of verdure. I have been applied to 

 for young plants by persons who have seen and admired 

 my hedges, and have sent them to various states in the 

 Union, and I have never in any instance heard of their 

 failure. 



I have also tried the experiment with the American 

 Hawthorn, or " Yankee thorn," as it is called in this 

 neighborhood; but this though a strong and durable 

 hedge, is very far inferior in beauty to the Buckthorn; 

 the leaves becoming spotted in August with yellow 

 spots, which give the whole plant a rusty appearance. 



My method of forming a hedge, is to set the young 

 plants in a single row, about nine inches apart, either 

 in the spring or autumn; if the latter, I should clip it 

 the following spring within six inches of the ground; 

 this will cause the hedge to be thick at the bottom, 

 which I regard as a great point of excellence; after this, 

 all that remains to be done, is to keep it from weeds, 

 and clip it once a year. 1 consider June as the best 

 time to trim it, as it soonest recovers its beauty at that 

 season. The clipping may be done either with the gar- 

 den shears, a hedge knife, or even with a common 

 scythe. 



I believe, gentlemen, I have now given you all the 

 information in my power upon hedges; and I must 

 trust to your interest in the subject to excuse me, if I 

 have complied too literally with your request, and made 

 a " twice told tale" too long. 



I am, gentlemen, with great respect. 



Yours, &c., 



E. HERSY DERBY. 



Salem, Sept. 19, 1842. 



