PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 155- 



tor twenty -five degrees below- zero. Peach trees killed very generally, but 

 I have yet to sec the first hedge killed by last winter's cold. The cold 

 winters of 1854 and 1855, however, did kill many Osage orange hedges, 

 but that is the only winter in which they have been killed since their intro- 

 duction as fencing material." 



Mr. Solon Robinson.— That is just the whole tliat I have stated in regard 

 to this kind of fence; that it could not be relied upon further north than 

 the cotton growing region. Any plant to answer for a fence in this lati- 

 tude must be proof against any degree of cold ever known. If it is not, 

 and a fanner has used it to fence his farm, he is never certain of the next 

 crop. One hard winter may leave him fenceless. I grant all that is ever 

 claimed for the beauty and goodness of Osage orange hedge, but still it is 

 not suflicientl}^ hardy. 



Mr. Geo. Bartlet thought that it would be safe to plant Osage orange 

 wherever jieach trees flourish. At any rate he thought the isothermal line 

 of the cotton plant quite too low. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn said that he had known a hedge of this plant to endure 

 the winter in Jersey twelve years, and he thought a man could afford to 

 lose his fence once in ten years rather than fence with rails. Besides, the 

 less fence we have the better. 



Mr. R. Cr. Pardee. — The greatest difficulty about a hedge of any kind is 

 not its liability to be kill<;d by cold, but to be neglected and suffered to 

 grow out of shape, unsightly and worthless. Tiie generality of farmers 

 would never pay proper attention to a hedge to make it answer for a fence. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — I believe tho wild pear tree would afford a good 

 material for hedges. It would be verj' hardy, strong, and not liable to any 

 disease. It: would, in my opinion, make a good hedge. 



Mr. Solon Robinson — And so would apple trees. Witness tliose in old 

 pastures that have been broused by stock; see how rugged tliey grow. No 

 animal could get through such a hedge. 



The Chairman. — I notice in an account of the discovery of a new pass 

 over the Andes, that a forest of apple trees was found upon one side of the 

 mountain. 



Poison Ivy Remedies. 



Mr. E. n. Rood, Bloomington, HI., says : " I notice in the reports of dis- 

 cussions at your Club that you have mentioned several remedies for the 

 poison ivy. After the poison has taken effect, and sores are a consequence, 

 bran poultice is a specific. This I know from actual experience, having 

 been many times poisoned — bran of wheat or rj'e equally good." "Yes," 

 Bays a lady, who has been often poisoned, "equally good; but no better 

 for me than hot water without the bran. A very hot poidtice of anything 

 is good, and often renewed will effect a cure; but all the remedies that I 

 have tried are not equal to the sweet fern tea. Perhaps bran is a specific 

 for some persons; it is not for me." 



Mr. Pardee said that he knew of a child that was troubled years with 

 poison sores cured by tea of Honduras, sarsaparilla. He would oppose all 

 remedies that tend to drive the poison inward." 



