six] WINDBREAKS AND HEDGES 
But the very best deciduous hedge-fence has 
proved to be the buckthorn, or blackthorn. This 
plant is adaptable to shearing, and can easily be 
kept in bounds. It is ornamental, and if it gets too 
high, it can be cut down to the ground and started 
afresh — which you cannot do with an evergreen. 
If a fence is absolutely required, use wire or stone 
by preference; but for a hedge fence, use either 
buckthorn or gleditschia. There is a variety or 
spore of the latter, without thorns. If this can be 
secured in quantity, the hedge will be quite as solid 
and fully as protective as if made of the thorny 
sort. 
Beech and apple hedges will turn animals, but 
will be more or less eaten by them. This does not 
affect their value, but in the long run the growth is 
made more dense. In the West and Southwest 
the cockspur thorn is used very commonly and ef- 
fectually for strong hedges. I have seen such 
hedges grown over with wild grape vines; and in 
other places dewberries were loading them with 
fruit. 
While I would almost abandon hedge-fences, 
I would wish to see a greatly increased use of 
hedges for ornament, for shelters, for nooks, and for 
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