400 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



HEDGES INSTEAD OF FENCES. 



Patent Office Report, Part 3, 1854. 



Sweet Brier — {Rosa rubiginosa). « 



A good hedge may be formed of tliis plant, by sowing the 

 " heps" (fruit) in the autumn as soon as ripe, or, what is better, 

 early in the spring, having kept them, in the mean time, mixed 

 with sand. But it is far more convenient to try young plants, 

 and set them a foot apart, in November. Let them grow as they 

 like for the first year, then cut them down to the ground the 

 second, and they will afterwards spring up and require no other 

 care than occasionally trimming with the pruning-knife or shears, 

 to keep the hedge in shape. When the stalks become naked at 

 the bottom, they should again be cut down to make them grow 

 thick. 



It seems to us that such a hedge has one great superiority over 

 others ; that is the beauty and most grateful perfume of its flow- 

 ers and leaves. — H. Meigs. 



The China roses (rosa indica) form a very handsome evergreen 

 hedge, (in temperate clhnates). They flower almost the whole 

 year. 



Our cultivated rose is too rambling in its growth, and leave 

 too open spaces below. Pear trees grown in hedges, 20 or 30 

 feet apart, do well. 



Girard, who wrote on this subject three hundred years ago, 

 says : " The poore will breake down our hedges, and wee have 

 the least part of the fruit. Forward ! in the name of God graft, 

 plant, set, plant and nourish up trees in every corner of your 

 ground; the labor is small, the cost is nothing; the commodity is 

 great; yourselves have plenty; the poore shall have somewhat 

 in time of want to relieve their necessity, and God shall reward 

 your good minds and diligence." 



FOR hedges LINE FENCES. 



The following plants have been recommended more or less : 



The Evergreens. 

 Alaternus — south of Europe. 

 Arbor vitse — Thuija occidentalis. 

 Box. 



Furze — Ulex Europceus. 

 Holly, the European — Ilex aquifolium. 

 Holley, the American — Ilex opaca. 

 Ivy, the Irish — Hedera helix vegeta. 



