TREE CULTURE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 69 



ground, awaiting the first favorable condition of tlie soil- — as after a fire, 

 or when the land containing them is ploughed— to spring up in countless 

 thousands, which entails an amount of labor to clear them of more 

 value than the freehold of the land. The Sweetbriar makes a splendid 

 fence when properly pruned, but if left uncut the seed-pods are regu- 

 larly eaten by cattle in the dry weather, and as the seed passes through 

 them, with its germinating powers undiminished, the fields and pastures 

 get quickly covered with the briars, and these become a nuisance quite 

 as formidable as the Gorse. The Olive is also a good hedge plant, and 

 if properly attended to makes a useful fence. It grows on the poorest 

 of soil. The Kangaroo Island acacia is, after all, our most useful 

 hedge plant, as it will grow without trouble in any kind of soil and 

 in any part of the colony, and when well-kept is highly ornamental. 

 The greatest objection to it is its liability to destruction by bush fires ; 

 yet, after witnessing all that may be said for and against it, there is not 

 anything better as a generally useful hedge plant. 



Of the plants named (leaving out the Lycium, which is yet only upon 

 trial) these may be classed as follows : — The Kangaroo Island Acacia 

 for general utility stands first, the Sweet Briar second, the Gorse third, 

 and the Hawthorn and OHve fourth in order of utility for general 

 cultivation. 



I am of opinion that, in some districts of the colony, a very ser- 

 viceable farmers' hedge could be grown of the Lombardy Poplar, as is 

 done in some districts of France and Italy. These trees are planted 

 thickly together in the line of fence — say at distances ranging from 

 18in. to 24in. apart, according to taste, and kept regularly pruned and 

 lopped in such a way that in a few years a close and impenetrable 

 hedge is the result. The trees are thinned as they become too thick, 

 and timber is thus provided for the use of the farm. The system works 

 well in Europe, and I do not see why it should not do equally so in 

 some parts of this country as well. In Figs. 50 and 51 are shown the 

 young poplars when newly planted out. Fig. 62 represents them pruned 

 and lopped at 3-4 years of age ; and in Fig. 53 I have tried to give an 

 idea of the hedge as it stands completed at say 6-8 years of age. Some 

 of our more hardy Eucalypti — such as the Redgum, Tasmanian bluegum, 

 and South Australian bluegum - would do equally as well, if not better, 

 than the Poplar. A fence of this kind could be easily kept, and would 

 give much more shelter to the fields beyond than the ordinary hedge 

 plants would do. 



