114 ON LIVE FENCES. 



GEORGE COGSWELL'S STATEMENT. 



To the Committee on Live Fences : 



Gentlemen — A part of the hedge which I offer for 

 premium is hawthorn, the other part is buckthorn. 

 There is about seven rods of the hawthorn, which was 

 set by me in the spring of '34. The plants were then 

 two years old, taken from a nursery at Indian Hill Farm, 

 West Newbury, Mass. They were placed six inches 

 apart, without any previous preparation of the soil. They 

 were cut within six inches of the ground vvhen set out; 

 the Septenjber following trimmed nearly back to the^ir^^ 

 cutting; spring following, in June, trimmed to within 

 eight inches of the last cutting; again in September 

 trimmed nearly back to the spring cutting ; and so on 

 from year to year, to its present growth ; which is five 

 feet three inches high, and three feet thick. It is now 

 eight years since the hedge was set ; for the last three it 

 has been used as a fence to my front yard, and has prov- 

 ed an impenetrable barrier to any annoyance which 

 might occur from numerous droves of cattle and swine. 

 It has been kept free from weeds, and manured twice. 

 No plant of the original number has died. During the 

 summer, this presents a beautiful and delicate foliage, 

 surpassing that of any other hedge-plant with which i 

 am acquainted. For some seasons, in September, its 

 beauty has been marred by the slug-worm ; beside this 

 it is perfect ; cattle do not browse or hook it. 



The buckthorn hedge was set out in the spring of '39 ; 

 the plants were then two years old ; the mode of trim- 

 ming has been nearly ihe same as the other. A part of 

 the soil is moist — the rest somewhat dry. No plants 

 have died. It appears hardy, and holds green till late 

 in the season. As a hedge plant it requires a longer 

 time than the hawthorn, havinn- few thorns. The cat- 

 tie browse it m some measure, and also hook it. This 

 hedge is about 17 rods in length. 



Yours, &c., 

 GEORGE COGSWELL. 



Bradford, Sept. 17, 1812. 



