10 



ENVIRONS OF XERES. 



Gordon pointed out a hedge of prickly pears, two years 

 old ; and which, even though it had been on the level 

 ground, would already prove a very tolerable fence. 

 He is of opinion that the original plants, if properly 

 looked after, will form a fence for forty years ; and if 

 renewed with occasional fresh plants, would last for ever. 



The aloe is also much used for fencing, but is con- 

 sidered by Mr. Gordon as very inferior to the prickly 

 pear, as it dies off whenever it has flowered. There is a 

 prejudice that this plant flowers only once in a hundred 

 years, and it is thence called the centennial aloe. The 

 truth is, that though it is often many years in flowering, 

 when it has once flowered it dies off" for ever. If there 

 is any part of the rural economy of the Andalusians 

 which the settler of New South Wales could adopt with 

 advantage, it is the hedge of prickly pears. It is not 

 possible to imagine a more efi^ectual fence, nor one which 

 it would take less trouble to plant or keep in order. It 

 is only necessary to place, at certain distances along the 

 proposed line, a leaf or part of a leaf of the plant. In 

 nineteen cases out of twenty they will take root without 

 any further trouble ; and in two years, or three at the 

 farthest, there will be a more effectual fence than a four- 

 railed one. The only objection to this kind of fence is 

 the room it occupies after a few years* growth, if not 

 pruned down ; but, in New South Wales, we are not yet 

 so much pressed for room as to make this an objection. 

 To those who may feel inclined to adopt this recom- 

 mendation it may be a useful hint. Though I was told it 

 was scarcely possible to keep the prickly pears from 

 growing, even by cutting the leaves into small pieces 

 and throwing them on a dry spot, still it would be 

 worth the trouble to place each leaf, or part of a leaf, in 



