Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-05-20
WHOLE NO. 81.
BurrALo GRovr, Ogle Co., Mar. 9th, 1912
Backtharn Ksr Aedstssx.

Joan s. 1ason4, -Desf Sl: Seeine.
iu one sc lGo ~ ~ AZ ~ 1ot vuips1S scf
ths A2ytcnIl III, which NJ lsioIy = Sayod.
request 70 give you "a aocount @ ~ 1xp6fi.
msnt with the buckthorn for hedRins, devote
a spare hour to comply with your request.--
Having located myself at defiance from tim
Der, and being convinced that my sod fence
must, in few years, be replaced BY something
more permanent, had recourse TO my sgricul-
tural works TO ascertain what plant would be
the best to form hedge. Without detailing
the various reasons which led me to reject all
others. and select the buckthorn, suffice it to
say, that from all could gather, Termed the
opinion that the latter would be the very best
adapted to the purpose, of all that were RECON-
mended. And though still hold the same
opinion, further experiment may bring to light
some better plant, or better mode of fencing.
In the summer Of 1910. I received quantity
Of buckthorn seed from New York scotsman,
accompanied with printed directions for ger
minating the seed Of the hawthorn, which I
followed, by mixing with earth in acoarse bag,
and burying it in the garden, expecting it to
sprout in The course of Is months. In about
weeks, accidentally discovered that the seed
had nearly all terminated, the sprouts having
penetrated through the bag in all directions.
| Immediately transferred them to seed bed.
1t being then midsummer, the plants grew only
one or two inches that season. The sprouts
were SO young and tender, that expected to
lose them all by the frosts of winter. ], how
ever, covered the most of them with horse
manure, leaving few unprotected, to test
their hardness. All said lhey'would die; and,
in the ensuing spring, all were surprised to see
them bidding out, both those that were covered
aud thoae exposed. Last season, they attained
the hight of ten to eighteen inches, branching
and leaving out with luxuriant dark green foli-
age, which remained bright and fresh ill a late
period in the fall. have, this spring. set
portion Of them in hedge Of twenty rods,
partly around the garden, and doubt not they
will form, in three or four years. good and
beautiful fence. The shrub does not bear SO
many thorns as some other species, but enough
to prevent cattle from being too familiar.
1t appears, then. that the buckthorn possesses
all the requisites for an affectuaI and permanent
fence 70: the prairies; viz: ease in propagal-
ing, rapid and close groath, great hardlhooc,
adaptedness to soil and climate, and last. but
not least, beauty Of appearance; and hope to
see the day when it, or hedges Of some material.
shall take the place Of the unsightly rail and
sod fences of all sorts, which now dis6gure
our noble prairles.
The principle difficulty now in the way, is
that Of procuring seed. The plant grows wild
in many parts Of New England, and there pro-
duces large quantities Of Inc berries, some OF
which are gathered by children and sold to the
druggists, to be converted into medicine. l
would suggest to you, Nh Editor, that yon
send orders to the druggists in the vicinity Of
Connecticut river for all the seed they can pro-
cure to be sent 10 your repository in Chicago.
Respectfully Yours,
C. l.. SHEPHERD.