1 
THE HEDGE PLANTS OF INDIA. 
the border was chambered ; but being supplied with soil-thermometers, for the purpose of ascertaining 
the temperature of the soil in various parts in the garden, and in the farm, throughout the year, we had 
an opportunity of knowing the fact ; while, under other circumstances, it might not have been known. 
It also led his Lordship to cause to be chambered upwards of 300 square yards of wall-borders, for grow- 
ing early vegetables, which, when made, indicated the same increase of temperature of the soil, viz. 9°. 
The question will naturally arise, Can the temperature of the soil be raised to any great extent, 
by the hot-water pipes, with a single mat covering the border to prevent radiation in any sort of 
weather, excepting rain ? We can raise the temperature of the soil from 50° up to 80' in eight or ten 
days, with a very small amount of fuel, much smaller than I could have imagined. By this mode of 
heating, I could keep the soil where the roots are at a temperature of SO', while the shoots would 
be at the freezing point, by merely opening or shutting the valves of the hot-water pipes. 
In order to find out correctly what effect a quantity of fermenting dung laid on the surface of a 
vine border not chambered would produce in raising the temperature of the soil at 1 foot 6 inches deep, 
on the 17th Dec. 1849 I covered the border three feet deep with good fermenting stable dung and 
leaves, turning it occasionally and adding to it. "When the dung was put on, the temperature of the 
soil was 40'; on the 17th January 1850, it was 42'; 17th February, 53°; 17th March, 53'; 17th 
April, 53° ; 17th May, 58'. Until the end of March the temperature of the dung was from 70' to 90°, 
when it fell gradually until the end of May, when it was taken off. On the 17th of June, by the heat 
of the sun, it had risen to 60° ; July 17th, 63 . "While that quantity of dung raised the temperature of 
the soil 13°, the chambered border stood till the 17th February (when the hot water was let on), at 
49°, only 4° lower than the unchambered border with all the dung. From this it would appear that 
the dung has little effect in heating the soil. It only prevents radiation ; and a slight covering has 
nearly the same effect as a greater thickness of fermenting dung. This I have proved by some experi- 
ments I have made, which if suitable to your readers, I would be happy to detail at a future time. 
[Mr. Shearer has here supplied us with abundant material for thought. Some of his revelations 
relative to the heat of chambered borders are very remarkable, and we look to him for information still 
more interesting on the same or kindred subjects.] 
THE HEDGE PLAXTS OF LXDIA* 
W T the present moment, when the Agriculture and Horticulture of India arc exciting so deep and so 
XX general an interest in this country, we hail with pleasure the appearance of this pamphlet from the 
pen of one whose devotion to the industrial science of the East, and whose wanderings in the Peninsula 
for many years while in the execution of duty, not only qualify him in an eminent degree for judging 
of the true causes which tend to retard industrial progress in these unhappy lands, but enable him with 
some confidence to suggest healthy remedies, and to point out the best channels for future exertion. 
In the paper now before us, his observations arc chiefly directed to the present condition of Indian 
fencing, with suggestions for its renovation and extension. This department of agricultural improve- 
ment is, in India, of vital interest, and has many and important bearings on the successful cultivation 
of the soil. Differing widely from this country in its geological, physical, and climatic features, India 
demands a peculiar system of agriculture, equally different from that adopted in our land. We ma\ 
briefly indicate the present condition of agriculture in these eastern lands, as exhibited by 1 >r. deghorn ; 
and his remarks sufficiently show the severe want which is felt of a better system of fencing than that 
at present so imperfectly followed. lie remarks: — 
" The system of Indian husbandry continues much in the rude state our fathers found it a century apo. In the day of rapid 
progress at home, agriculture in Ilindoostan evinces few signs of improvement. The farming utensils ore simple and \\ niched; 
the most abject utilitarianism characterises field operations. With the Ryot no motive seems to exist beyond providing the means 
of immediate subsistence: he scratches the soil with his black-wood plough, tipped with iron, and made light with the pole of 
bamboo, so as to he carried on the shoulder ; he drops the seed upon the furrow, drags a log of wood, — hollowed like a trough but 
open at the ends,— to break the clods and smoothen the surface, or draws a tew thorny branches 01 Acacia over the Held, which may 
he termed the brush-harrow of the Hindoo ; nature has been bountiful- man is indolent, ami (rives himself no concern ulioul his 
crop, trusting for the anticipated harvest to the immense productiveness of the soil, which yields, in man} parts thrice a year, sui h 
abundant crops under the favouring rays of a tropical sun, that the cultivator is not stimulated to farther exertion. The Kyot, 
however, understands irrigation and the succession of seasons, hut knows little regarding the biennial or triennial rotation 
of crops. The sites of tanks are Invariably well chosen, being selected where one or more nultatu or water-courses naturally meet 
in a convenient locality for embankment. Manure is never employed on the cotton plains, although usually in sugar-cane fields, 
aid to a great extent in Sooparco gardens, as well as to the root of grape vines and pine-apples. The manure used generally 
consists of rotted leaves, cow-dung, wood ashes, blood, dead fish, &c ; ami Indeed the dunghills of Betel plantations are so valued 
as occasionally to become the subjects of litigation. I would simply mention the fact that economy is not practised in the 
♦ 77»e Hrdijr Plant* of India, antl tin' OtmditiotU which a<l<int them for tpCCtal pWrpcMt anil particular i 
Hugh F. C. I leghorn, H.E.I.C.S. 
