416 



Renewing Old Hedges. 



[OCT. 



In spraying vines, apples, pears, and potatoes, there is no 

 reason to depart from the customary proportions, viz., one part 

 of copper sulphate to one of quicklime. Injury only takes place 

 in specially unfavourable years, and then it cannot be avoided. 

 The employment of a solution giving an alkaline reaction is not 

 considered advisable, on account of the more easy solubility of 

 the copper hydrate in such a solution. Moreover, it is easier 

 to mix the solution with equal portions of each component 

 than to be obliged frequently to test for an alkaline reaction ; on 

 the other hand, it may easily happen that a solution is used 

 containing free copper sulphate. 



In conclusion, Herr Schander observes that decidedly too 

 much importance has been attached to the physiological 

 influence of the coating of Bordeaux mixture on the green leaf ; 

 the beneficial action of the copper on the higher plants was in no 

 case observed in his experiments. In his opinion the Bordeaux 

 mixture should only be used as a protection against fungi, though 

 in certain cases one may usefully employ its power of affording 

 protection from the sun to which reference has been made above. 



With reference to the article on " Fences and Hedges " 

 which appeared in this Journal (May, 1905), the Board have 



tural Correspondents : — 



" There is no doubt that hedges are the most expensive of 

 all fences, and they are not planted except for amenity. 

 Where they have been neglected and overgrown, it is some- 

 times the best and cheapest policy to renew them by judicious 

 cutting, allowing three years' growth and laying over young 

 shoots. In the article in question it is recommended that 

 fences which have been cut over some years before should 

 be cut and laid. The English system is to partly cut 

 over these new shoots near the ground and lay them on 

 the slant. In some experiments made by me in the 

 renewing of old hedges, it has been found that shoots 

 half cut through near the ground are apt to die off in our 



Renewing: 

 Old Hedges. 



received the following interesting note from 

 Mr. George Prentice, Strathore, Thornton, 

 Fifeshire, one of their Honorary Agricul- 



