HEDGES. 



These are susceptible of great improvement- There is a uni- 

 versal prevalence of spiny shrubs and prickly bushes throughout 

 India. They are a continual source of annoyance to the bare- 

 footed pilgrim, and a frequent cause of admission into hospital. 

 The absence of proper fences all over the country is one of the 

 chief impediments to the progress of agriculture. It is only in 

 the neighbourhood of large towns, around upland villages, in 

 military cantonments, or near the dwellings of European resi- 

 dents, that we find any serviceable enclosures. This does not 

 arise from any want of material ; in this respect, indeed, the 

 Flora is peculiarly rich ; and in dealing with this our difficulty 

 lies in selection for particular localities. The strong close hedges 

 which are occasionally met with around more valuable crops, 

 such as betel-vine and sugar-cane, show what can be done, and 

 prove satisfactorily that this department of agriculture is suscep- 

 tible of very considerable improvement. The losses sustained 

 by the ryot from the inroads of cattle and wild animals, and 

 other causes, due to the absence of these fences, is enormous. 



In confirmation of the foregoing views as to the deficiency 

 of fences, and the consequent injury to agricultural produce, we 

 may quote a single extract from Dr Buchanan's Eeport on the 

 District of Purneah — (Montgomery Martin's History, vol. iii., 

 p. 279) : — " I nowhere saw round the same field a hedge and a 

 good ditch ; nor did I ever see a hedge that was a good fence. 

 The want of fences is a great evil, and the cattle commit un- 

 common depredations. A large proportion of them belong to the 

 pure castes, who in this district enjoy high privileges, and are 

 uncommonly insolent to the vulgar. Their cattle trespass with 

 much impunity, and the poor of course retaliate, as far as they dare, 



