Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-05-13
Agricultural.
From the Farmers Monthly Visitor.


FENCES sc.
Hon. Isaac Hill-Dear Sir-In m,
iourneying through the New England
States have frequently been struck with
the want Of beauty and too often the wan
OF durability and suficiency of the wall.
and fences, enclosing and upon otherwise
beautiful farms. In some parts the scar
city OF stone, and in others the difficulty
OF procuring the common fencing materi.
ais, such as cedar rails, &C. is he com.
mon apology for the absence OF good
secure, ard durable fence. There are
many objections urged against hedges
with how much reason leave others te
decide. The doubtful nature of. the ex.
pertinent, however, and constant care sup
posed TO be necessary TO bring one to per-
lection, added to the risk of its ultimately
providing a safe closure, deters many from
setting it,. It's beauty is certainly strong
indictment to give it a thorough trial.
Hon. Barnabas Palmer, of this town, has
a beautiful hedge under way, with every
prospect OF complete success. In your
June number (6) of the Visitor. he gave
some information derived from sources en-
titled to great respect, in regard to the
quality and proper cultivation of hedges.
His hedge, which was set in May last, is
OF the Buckthorn variety, and was pro-
cured from the farm of E. Fl. Derby, Esq
of Salem, Mass. 1t is now something
better than two feet high on an average,
and appears to be doing exceedingly well,
with only three times hoeing since set,
and Lids fair to become competent fence
in four years or less. Mr.. Palmer gave
the preference TO the Buckthorn, from the
representations of those better acquainted
with it, that it is more hardy and rapid in
growth than the other varieties, and from
its possessing certain medicinal qualities,
rendering it unpalatable to cattle, which
would de,e. them from brousing it. Ma
ny prefer the COckspur. or Delaware
thorn 70 any other, by reason of Its hav-
ing thorn on it, thus rendering any at
tempt 10 penetrate il less likely 10 succeed.
did not intend. however, TO have said so
much ia regard to hedges, but to propose
a substitute TO such as may not feel in
clined to try the hedge. There is beau
tiiul specimen of hedge around the ma
rine Hospital at Chelsea, of the maple
leaf Washington thorn, which appears
well. The hedges around the garden Of
the Insane Hospital at Charlestown, are
Hawthorn; but this plant is not generally
approved Of though its foliage is ex-
ceedingly beautiful but it requires too
much and careful attention to be profita-
bic, and will not thrive well in our cli-
mate. would recommend to those who
feel curious in these matters, to visit and
inspect them, should business or other cir.
cumstances cab them to Boston.
In the inferior Of New York I fire.
quently saw a species of wall or fence
made of stone and sod, which was thought
highly of there, and which think might
be probably introduced among us. Il
will endeavor to describe it, and the pro-
cess Of making it. First a LAYER Of
stones from four to six inches high. saw
eighteen inches in width. On TOP of This
is put layer of sods, grass down, care
fully filing, up all the interstices in the
stone beneath, then layer of stone, then
sod. thus alternately until your wall is At
the desired height. when you cap il with
sod. Grass seed is then sown on the ton
and around the sides on the edges of the
turf which should come out flush and
smooth with the stone. The following
season the grass entirely covers and con-
ceals the stone, and you have most beau
tiful and solid wall. would observe that
the thickness Of the wall, ia order to pre-
vent It's settling, should diminish as you
ascend eight or ten inches width at the
top being sufficient. The sods necessary
for the wall, being generally, or for the
most part, taken from the spot, is usually
done so as TO make good drain. some
four or five inches deep on each side of Il
Fears may be entertained that this de-
scrinion of wall would no. be secure
from the effects of the frost. was par-
ticuIar in my enquirics on this point and
was assured that no essential injury was
perceived to arise from il. saw many
which had been built six to ten years, and
tbey appeared solid and firm. You have