Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-05-22
No. 8.


Of the haws for the propagation of them in more
northerly soil and climate, which has been found to
agree we'll with them Tor near thirty years. mere
fore there is no room 10 doubt the congeniality q
our climate for their success In forming good hedges
Instead of five six feet in height, as the Boianls
limits them in native state, they rise to twelveor
fourteen generally in good soil and instead OF
ezo they are armed with many sharp thorns, not as
long as those of the cockspur kinds, but Uncommon
Nv sharp and sufficiently defensive for all the purpo-
SEES of hedging. This kind seems to take the lead
in the appreciation OF most people, as they are easily
propagated, and more uniform in their growth,
and more manageable in the process oftrainng, and
generally allowed to be of speedier growth. They
vegeate the first year, after the seed rpens, which
is not the case with other kinds. More will be said
on this point in its proper place.
NV first hedges were began by digging up native
stocks, after having their tops cut away by hand
saw, paying regard to kinds, as knew no dlfier-
ence if they had thorns on them and suppose that
would be the case with many others not acquainted
with the subject. As they were not plenty, TOOK
all that came in my way of different sizes; anu oy
having their tops taken off, there was no difficulty
in planting, having Ratchet and block OF wood
to chop off the spreading roots TO moderate size.
| planted, perhaps, one hundred rods that spring,
and did not loose single stock but what grew and
put out number Of shoots from each stock, but
when they became matured found had variety
in my hedge of different kinds, their foliage and
blossoms discovered. Some pat forth earlier than
others and gave my hedge yariegated appearance
\ nevertheless had hedge which was my main OBJ
lject When planting, selected one particular kind
from the rest that had fewer thorns and different
1 leaf which had previously known by the name of
the white thorn, and planted piece intending to
make one hedge of them alone the uniformity
, would be thus preserved. then had an eye fothe
appearance that they to make at future day.
! found that those alone would make goodhedge IN
+ process Of time with attention They blossom
early and are the 4sarole of the Botanlss and so
will any of the various kinds by good management.
J. When speak Of good management, 1t is that kind
If of attention to the subject 10 prevent neglect
from intervening at any period of the progress as
unremitted attention is the life and soul of any BUSH
IF ness. 1t may be thought that whena hedge plant
n ed nature will attend TO the growth so it will, but
it is the assistance of art that perfects the hedges
: Nature is necessarily tending to produce hedge
N row, thing not TO be desired
"a 1t is not the quantum of labor required, but the
q timely administration Of it that brings about the de-
sired effect and lessons the labor that neglect in
creases. The apittotia, or Virginia Parsley leafed
y thorn, has now taken the lead. 1t has many COM
bining advantages In the first place, it is easy OF
propagation, uniform in its manner of growth, and
ID singular in the important part of producing shoots
of the plash after being laid, to which the other
10 kinds don't seem to incline They either shoot from
the stump after cutting, from the top of the pash
I'd where cut off after laying, not filling the vacan-
o. ces so eecually the former, which affords shoots
IN from all parts of the plahing, if rightly performed
ell Consequently it forms more uniform hedge.
rs In the further detail of procedure in this work.
in the practical part the Virginia thorn is the kind
of which shall principally treat The process
90 will be kept in view in forming and completing
hedges vet the same treatment with some little va
en- riations, will answer for the other kinds.
~ The Botanical writers have generally Chased the
r thorn under the order Crategus, others under es-
~ pilus: neither is it easy to determine to which genus
i they belong most properly. But have gwen their
~ names agreeable to the Botaniss Of our own coun"
~ try, believing they the most conversanl with
them and as my own acquaintance with the various
u kinds has enabled to judge of the correctness OF
" the description which not far from correct, ex-
-. cept in the Virginia kind as before noted;
Our botanists say that the characters Of the Cras
,o tegus and Mespilus differ immateriay to sup
pose they might be reduced to one genus with much
H. more propriety than the Beech and Chestnut. They
IN are genera which much confusion prevails amongst
MI botanical writer's chasing them most of
he the Species under the Crategus: others the same
70 species under the Mespilus Neither is it easy to
sh determine which they, with the most propriey,
belong. Marshall says, have observed IN some
ed species from to three styles; in others from
three to FIVE; but not having observed any to be
nc constant with o agreeably TO the character of the
Crategus, have ranged none under that genus. We
have natives of these states, several species of Mes
1T plus and great number OF Uarleties, which, until
better Disseminated and ascertained, can never be
described with any degree Of accuracy.
re The great variety of thorn shews the means the
rs American farmer has at hand to form living fences
by when the Europeans, at least of them, have
lit been famous for hedging, and have but one solitary
We kind 1.-THE Craegus Oracantha) to make all their
h. hedges from and from those imported here for that
purposes early times, for hedging by our ancestors