32 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. [Chap 



Yet, amongst a sensible people, such as those, for 

 whose use this work is intended, one need not be 

 afraid of ultimate success ; and I, above all men, 

 ought not to entertain such fear, after what I have 

 seen with regard to the Ruta Baga. The people 

 of this country listen patiently ; and if they be not 

 in haste to decide, they generally decide wisely at 

 last. Besides, it is obvious to every one, that the 

 lands, in the populous parts of the country, must 

 be provided with a different sort of fence from that 

 which is now in use ; or, that they must be, in a 

 few years, suffered to lay waste. 



38. Yet, with all these circumstances in my fa- 

 vour, I proceed with faultering accent to propose, 

 even for a garden, a live fence^ especially when I 

 have to notice, that I know not how to get the 

 plants, unless I, in the outset, bring them, or their 

 seeds, from England ! However, I must suppose 

 this difficulty surmounted ; then proceed to describe 

 this fence that I would have, if I could. 



39. In England it is called a Quick-Set Hedge. 

 The truth is, however, that it ought rather to be 

 called an Everlasting Hedge ; for, it is not, as will 

 be seen by-and-by, so very quickly set ; or, at least, 

 so very quickly raised. If I could carry my read- 

 ers into Surrey, in England, and show them quick- 

 set hedges, I might stop here, and only provide the 

 seeds or plants. But, not being able to do that, I 

 must, as well as I can, describe the thing on paper. 

 The plants are those of the White Thorn. This 

 thorn will, if it be left to grow singly, attain the 

 bulk and height of an apple-tree. It bears white 

 flowers in great abundance, of a very fragrant smell, 

 which are succeeded by a little berry, which, when 

 it is ripe in the fall, is of a red colour. Within the 

 red pulp is a small stone ; and this stone, being put 



