August, 1009.] 



135 



Horticulture . 



Curator (Mr. T. Jackson), and it would 

 appear that many people in the island 

 are intending to follow the example 

 thus started and to plant hedges on 

 their own properties. Mr. Jackson re- 

 cently forwarded to this Department 

 some notes ou hedge plants and hedge 

 planting, which may be of general 

 interest outside Antigua. 



In addition to the three plants already 

 named, Mr. Jackson mentions the hibis- 

 cus, the pomegranate (Punica granalum, 

 Agave Americana, Agave vivipara, wild 

 coffee (Clerodendron aculeatum), and 

 several species of bamboo, all of which 

 would be useful in the establishment 

 of fences. 



Apart from the use of these plants for 

 larger hedges, trials made at the Anti- 

 gua Botanic Station have shown that 

 at least one or two of them can be 

 utilized for the formation of low orna- 

 mental borders after the manner in 

 which low ' box' hedges are frequently 

 employed iu England. These borders, 

 when well cared for, form aa attractive 

 feature in an English garden, and in 

 addition to their ornamental value, 

 serve a very useful purpose in defining 

 boundaries, and keeping up the sides of 

 walks. Mr. Jackson points out that 

 the bread-and-cheese plant, when kept 

 well trimmed, forms a useful substitute 

 for the 'box-edging' referred to, and 

 there is no doubt that such dwarf 

 boundaries (kept about 8 or 9 inches high) 

 could be introduced into West Indian 

 gardens with striking effect. 



The ' bread-and-cheese ' hedge is estab- 

 lished by sowing seeds on a border 

 about 18 inches wide, the seeds beirg 

 planted in drills from 3 to 4 inches deep. 

 If a thick, rather wide hedge is desired, 

 two rows of seeds can be planted, the 

 rows being about 6 inches apart. When 

 the young plants are about 8 inches high 

 they should be trimmed. The first trim- 

 ming should consist only of taking off 

 the points of the young plants so as to 

 force them to grow from the bottom 

 and form a shrubby undergrowth. If 

 wet weather ensues, the next pruning 

 should be performed a few weeks after 

 the first. Subsequent trimmings will be 

 at the discretion of the grower. 



As already mentioned, in addition to 

 their ornamental value as a dwarf hedge, 

 these plants are capable of forming a 

 useful boundary fence. The foliage is 

 somewhat liable to be attacked by leaf- 

 mining caterpillars, which disfigure it. 

 When so attacked, it should be 9prayed 

 with kerosene emulsion. 



Another plant which can also be 

 grown to form a dwarf hedge is the log- 



wood. It is not so satisfactory for this 

 purpose, however, as the bread-and- 

 cheese, on account of the fact that its 

 shoots are so much stiffer and stronger 

 growing. The best dwarf hedges of 

 logwood are grown on very poor soil. 

 On the other hand, if it is required to 

 establish a fence for the purpose of 

 keeping out stock, no plant is mote 

 useful than the logwood, since it forms 

 a thick serviceable hedge, which is 

 almost impenetrable on account of the 

 thorny growth. Planted around culti- 

 vated lands it would certainly prove a 

 formidable brrrier against prsedial 

 larceny. Like the bread-and-cheese, the 

 logwood plants are best established by 

 sowing seed at the place where the hedge 

 is to be grown. 



Two other useful plants for stock-resist- 

 ing fences are the Barbados cherry and 

 the pomegranate. The bright green 

 foliage of the former makes its appear- 

 ance very handsome. The seeds of these 

 plants should be sown in a nursery and 

 transplanted when the young plants are 

 about 6 inches high. 



The pomegranate makes a fine fence 

 which can be established either by sow- 

 ing seeds or planting cuttings. 



Persons who are intending to plant 

 hedges, which would at once be useful 

 and ornamental, might well utilize the 

 strong-growing hibiscus for the purpose. 

 The best method to establish a fence of 

 this would be to transplant rooted cut- 

 tings. A further advantage in favour 

 of this plant is that the numerous 

 varieties which exist offer the grower 

 some scope for a colour scheme. 



The Bougainvillaea, it is well-known, 

 forms a fence of highly ornamental 

 appearance. Plants of this must be 

 propagated by cuttings or layers. In 

 starting a hedge of this description the 

 best plan would be first to establish a 

 light trellis work, which would serve as 

 a support for the young plants. Later 

 on when the trellis decays, the plants 

 would be able to support themselves. It 

 is advisable that the quick-growing 

 shoots should be tied in, and that prun- 

 ing should be done freely. 



A pant which has given very satis- 

 factory results in Barbados and other 

 islands for hedge purposes is the sweet 

 lime {Tiiphasia Aurantioda). This, if 

 kept well trimmed, forms a thick, bushy 

 growth, which is ornamental, highly 

 useful, and also quite capable of keep- 

 ing out stock and serving as a general 

 protection to the enclosed area. The 

 only drawback to the more general use 

 of this plant for the purpose mentioned 

 is that its growth is very slow. 



