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LXXXIX. On the Fences most eligible for Gardens and 

 Orchards. By John Williams, Esq. of Pitmaston, near 

 Worcester. 



Read April 1, 1817. 



Amongst the various hints offered for the improvement of 

 the science of Horticulture, I do not recollect to have met 

 with any modern remarks on living fences ; and as my ob- 

 servations and experiments tend to shew the good effects of 

 planting Evergreen Shrubs, for enclosing gardens and orchards, 

 rather than Hawthorn or Crab quick, my remarks on this 

 subject may, perhaps, not be uninteresting to the Horticul- 

 tural Society. 



It is said, our ancestors took their first hints in gardening 

 from the Dutch and Flemings ; and judging from the speci- 

 mens of old gardens, which existed near ancient mansions 

 thirty or forty years ago, it appears, that they were gene- 

 rally enclosed by clipped hedges of Yew or Box. The Haw- 

 thorn is so nearly allied to the genus Pyrus, that its foliage 

 affords food to the same caterpillars, beetles, aphides, and 

 other insects, as are to be met with on the Apple and Pear. 

 Last spring, there was an unusual number of caterpillars and 

 small-winged beetles, which severally made their appear- 

 ance in succession, and at last nearly devoured the whole of 

 the blossoms, fruit, and foliage, so that, in many places the 

 trees in the beginning of June, had the naked, leafless ap- 

 pearance of winter. I had then a strong proof of the 

 advantages of a Holly fence, in comparison with Hawthorn. 



