Crawrorp.—On Hedges and Hedge Plants. 205 
geous animal to face it. It grows with rapidity in favourable situations, 
and with fair rapidity in more barren places, and it stands clipping. 
An Olearia which grows on the soft ground of the Peninsula might 
perhaps be grown with advantage as a shelter hedge. In favourable situa- 
tions it grows very thick and close, and sometimes to a height of seven or 
eight feet. Live stock do not touch it, and it is difficult to kill, either by 
‘burning or by cutting. It has, however, no protection in the way of thorns, 
and it is subject to the same disadvantages as the Tauwhinu ( Casinia retorta), 
viz., that it seeds very freely and is apt to spread ; but still not nearly to 
the same extent as the latter plant. 
Few farmers in New Zealand have any idea of the time, the labour, and 
the expense required to produce a good hedge. In my part of Scotland, in 
an elevated situation, it requires about nine years to rear a thorn or beech 
hedge into a secure fence. During this period it must be be fenced on both 
sides, if stock is kept in the adjoining fields, and it must be dug about the 
roots and cleared from weeds and grass twice a year. In lower and more 
favourable situations, I suppose four or fivegyears would be required. After 
the fence is established, it ought, besides being pruned, to be cleared of 
weeds about the roots at least once a year. This is a point never attended 
to in New Zealand, and consequently the lower branches get rotten, and 
the hedge becomes open at the bottom. Whatever plant we may eventually 
adopt for our hedges in New Zealand ought to have fair play, and be kept 
free from weeds and grass. 
In forest planting in New Zealand we find that we must have recourse 
to exotie trees. Those of the country seem generally unsuited for arti- 
cial plantation. Accustomed to grow naturally in close proximity, 
thus sheltering each other, they seem unable to stand the greater 
exposure to air and light when planted by man. There may be other 
reasons, but it is sufficient to point out that practically they are found un- 
suitable. Trees from California, from the Himalaya, from Japan, from 
Australia take their place, and perhaps grow better than those from Europe. 
If we find the trees from these countries succeed so well, may we not look 
to the same countries to supply a good hedge plant ? 
I have seen wonderful hedges of the bamboo at Singapore. They were 
perhaps rather too high and too close, thereby excluding the air too much. 
The small black bamboo seems to grow well in this country, but it is hardly 
the plant we require. 
What we want is a hardy plant of rapid growth, which will stand clip- 
ping; which, if possible, shall be protected by thorns ; and which will not 
be subject to the attacks of insect life. Whoever shall sueceed in introduc- 
ing this plant will deserve the country’s thanks. The Osage orange has 
