ON IJVE FENCES. 113 



is secured to a heavy hard wood handle, by a socket and 

 strap. With this powerful instrument, the operator will 

 cut over a great extent of hedge in the course of a day. 



On the 23d of June, 1840, the hedges were trimmed 

 with this knife 18 inches high and 14 inches wide, and 

 received no other culture during the season. 



On the 29th and 30th June, 1841, they were trimmed 

 to two feet in height, and 18 inches in width, inclining 

 them slightly inwards towards the top. 



The hedges were trimmed this season on the 2Sth of 

 June, 3|- feet in height, and 2^ feet wide, bringing the 

 centre to a point in the conical form, in which you now 

 see them. 



I have been thus particular in detailing the method of 

 cultivation I have pursued, not so much from the expec- 

 tation of communicating anything new upon the subject^ 

 as from the desire to induce every one who proposes 

 planting a hedge, 1st, to gather or purchase the seed, 

 and raise his own plants, thereby enabling him to select 

 from several hundred those of equal size and thrift, as 

 near as possible. 2dly, to induce him to spare no pains 

 in having the ground properly prepared and manured ; 

 and 3dly, to impress upon him the importance of close 

 and continued pruning, without which it is impossible to 

 form a compact, handsome hedge. 



1 have never used any other plant than the buckthorn, 

 and therefore am not [)erhaps competent to judge of its 

 comparative merits; but from personal observation I 

 should not hesitate to pronounce it, decidedly, the most 

 suitable hedge plant for our section of the country. I 

 have now growing upon my faru} at North Salem, one 

 hundred and twelve rods of hedge, containing 2800 

 plants, and in no instance have I ever known one to fail, 

 or perish, from any cause whatever. 



I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, 

 Your ob't serv't, 



PICKERING DODGE, 



September 14, 1842. 



15 



