THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



71 



home consumption, we think it, in our climate, 

 just the meanest crop that is made. It is true, 

 there is no better feed for ahorse than a plenty 

 of oats ; hut fed to them in such quantities as 

 they require to do work on, one can make any 

 other forage crop to greater profit. As proof 

 of this we may mention that Mr. Ro. Edmond, 

 who has bought more feed for horses than any 

 other man in Virginia, and who is an adept in 

 his business of James River canal route con- 

 tractor, has told us that he does not estimate 

 sheaf oats, pound for pound, as equal to hay of 

 any sort. 



One thing more, and we have done. Le^ 

 those who may incline to try the experiment of 

 successive oat crops, whether for hogs or for 

 other purposes, beware of selecting sassafras 

 land for the purpose. Repeated plowings will 

 surely extend and increase the growth of sassa- 

 fras bushes. We know that by experiment in 

 this very matter. 



MEETING OF THE GLOUCESTER COUN- 

 TY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Richmond Whig of January 21, con- 

 tains the proceedings at the third annual exhi- 

 tion of the Gloucester Co. "Agricultural Society, 

 including the award of premiums, and a hand- 

 some address from Dr. Page. We notice it to 

 praise the zeal of the gentlemen composing 

 this society, and to commend their example 

 throughout the State. The premiums are not 

 large and never have been : there is no reason 

 why they should be. The society is a domes- 

 tic one altogether, and as there is but little ex- 

 pense in getting the articles to the fair, the 

 successful competitors can afford to take small 

 sum in premiums. Indeed they are so small 

 that we presume they are never claimed unless 

 perhaps as a credit against annual contribu- 

 tions. In this view of the case, we suggest, if 

 it would not be better in each case merely to 

 take certificates and leave the money to accu- 

 mulate for other purposes. All that Mr. Deans, 

 Mr. Curtis, Mr. Page and Mr. Taylor want, is 

 evidence that they have the best articles in their 

 respective ranges of exhibition. Public spirit 

 alone prompts such gentlemen to exhibit. 



The money left might be well expended in 

 the purchase of a good agricultural Library ; 

 or, it might be increased by additional contri- 

 butions, and laid out in obtaining good male 



animals of approved breeds to be the property 

 of the Society, and kept for their exclusive use. 

 There are other modes in which the money 

 might be very usefully employed. Suppose, 

 for instance, certain gentlemen were selected to 

 make certain experiments, the expense thereof 

 to be defrayed out of the common fund, where 

 it is at all costly, and only two such should be 

 performed in a year. How important in time 

 would the contribution thus obtained, become 

 to the practice of husbandry ! What we want 

 is facts accurately observed and reported ; so 

 that we shall be able to introdcce induction into 

 agriculture, so much of where science is theo- 

 retical and its practice empirical. And if half 

 of the counties in Virginia should each make 

 such annual contributions — of onty a few facts 

 by each individual society — how rapidly would 

 true knowledge accumulate. 



But whether these suggestions are heeded or 

 not, we heartily wish more of our counties 

 would imitate the example. What she is now 

 doing is productive of much good at home in 

 various ways. 



OSAGE ORANGE HEDGES. 



In a late number of the Boston Cultivator, 

 Mr. Sanford Howard, the editor, gives a very 

 unfavorable account of the Osage Orange 

 Hedges which he saw in an extensive western 

 tour which he took last. fall. They were either 

 too thin and straggling, or they had too many 

 wide gaps in them. It was, he says, the gene- 

 ral opinion that where stone or dead wood fen- 

 ces were at all accessible, that they were cheap- 

 er than the Osage Orange or any other hedge 

 plant ; the Osage Orange, by the way, not be- 

 ing universally admitted to be the best plant 

 for the purpose. 



We agree in his opinion that any form of 

 hedge is not economical in this country. The 

 trouble of trimming, the draft upon the land 

 and crops on each side of the hedge, and the 

 generally indifferent growth of such things 

 forbid their use, economically considered. 



As to the Osage Orange we have some little 

 personal experience, and cannot recommend it. 

 On poor land it won't grow ; on rich land it 

 inclines to become a tree, and wants severe 

 pruning just when you can't spare the labor. 



Still, for certain situations, such as orchards 

 and gardens, where land is not an object, and 

 where you want something which shall be or- 



