50 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



THE BEEBEERY AS A HEDGE PI^NT. 



BY A. HOOD, BARRIE, ONT. 



The berberry is one of those unfortunate plants that a papular 

 prejudice lias in the old world almost banished from cultivation, anci 

 just as it was beginning to outgrow these prejudices on this side of the, 

 Atlantic, and recommend itself as the only really hardy hedge plant 

 we possess, scientific investigation steps in and exerts a repressing 

 influence on the growing popularity of this valuable hedge plant,, 

 threatening to banish it without ceremony from our fields and gardens; 

 this outrage, however, on one of our best friends I cannot permit 

 without a word of remonstrance. 



Let us see in the first place what is the indictment against thia 

 unrivalled pig repeller and crop protector. It is charged then by 

 popular prejudice that the berberry causes the rust in wheat, and 

 by scientific investigators, who are more careful in their choice of 

 expressions, not that it -^ causes rust," — they are very careful not to go 

 so far as that — but that the fungus which attaches itself to the straw 

 and there growing becomes rust, that this fungus at one stage of its 

 existence attaches itself to, and is sustained and nourished by tlio 

 berberry. This is tlie charge. Very well, for the sake of argument 

 suppose all this is admitted, what does it prove ? iJoes it prove that 

 if there was no berberry there would be no rust ? Nothing of the 

 kind. Does it prove that if there was no berberry there would be less 

 rust ? No, even this much is not shown ; but it can be shown that 

 whether there is berberry or not, in this country at least, there is 

 always more or less rust, proving that the berberry is not by any 

 means the only plant to which the rust producing fungus can attach 

 itself, and on which it can feed and flourish. Could it be shown that 

 if the berberry was banished there would be no rust — could it even be 

 shown that without it there would be much less rust, I would say at 

 once tear it up root and branch ; but if such cannot be shown where 

 is the wisdom in destroying our friends when by doing so we cannot 

 weaken our enemies ? Where is the use in discarding the berberry 

 wlien it leaves us as far off as ever from banishing rust ? 



The berberry is hardiness itself, and as a hedge plant has, I believe^ 

 }io equal for a climate like ours, It is not in the least injured by thQ 



