Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-10-16

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son will thoroughly free the ground fror
weeds, and a simple and cheap process c
cultivation Of this kind, will, in ordinar
cases secure fine growth of plants the firs
year, averaging two feet in height. Tn
period for. planting seed may be safely de
layed till the ordinary season for planting
corn, but no precise time appears necessary
as the plants are hardy. and early plantin,
answers a good purpose providing the soil b.
warm, and the sun has power sufficient {,
push forward a healthy growth /; and in Al
degree north latitude planting has frequentl!
been done as la:e as the 10th of June, will
admirable success. The hedge row, prev
ious to setting out the plants. should bt
brought into high state of cultivation by
frequent plowings and harrowings. and &
neat furrOw may be made with the plow il
the exact line where it is intended to plant
the hedge. The planting may then com.
mence, and by placing the plant along per-
may again be employed in covering the
roots, and in the hands Of an expert work
man, the work may be as perfectly done as
If the spade alone we're used. The first year
the only thing requisite to be done, would be
to keep down the weeds by working the land
some three feet each side of the row with a
Plow and cultivator, 70: the purpose Of sub
DUNG weeds and grass and bringing the soil
into perfect state of tith, so as to secure
luxuriant and rapid growth. Some adopt
the plan of heading down the plants even
with the surface, the first season they are
removed to the hedge row, and when this is
done, they push forth stunted growth, and
the object sought for is not SO perfectly at
tanned, as if they were left unmolested till the
spring of the second year. The great thing
to be accomplished in rearing an Usage
orange hedge, is to get thick and thrifty
growth near the ground, and this may to a
certainty be obtained by cutting down the
plant the second year, before the leaves make
their appearance in the spring, quite even
with the ground, and by covering the stubs
with about two inches of finely pulverised
mould, each plant will send forth
some six or eight shoots, which, in an ever
age of cases, will attain four feet height
during the succeeding summer. The third
year, a sharp pruning hook may be used to
head it down some thirty inches from the
ground, and the fourth year the hedge will
form perfect protection against all kinds of
stock, and even the smallest bird cannot pass
through it without risking its life. In wood
where land is valuable and timber
is of but little consequence, the hedge may
be trimmed every spring for the purpose Of
keeping it in proper limits, and in fact it ap-
pears absolutely necessary to attend closely
10 this matter, where the farm is divided into
fields of from ten to twenty acres each. The
method of planting, trimming, cultivating,
and heading down, may be varied to suit the
aste and convenience of the owner of the
hedge and the one here adverted to, is
adapted for those who may engage extern
siveIy in the business. Each cuItivator has
plans and views of his own but the system
here recommended will be found to answer
all practical purposes, and will be consdera-
ply cheaper than the common plans in use.
There can now be no question, but that
he Maclura will answer an admirable pur-
,ose for hedging on the extensive prairies Of
he west and if it should so turn out that it
would not bear the requisite pruning, for a
imbered country, yet on this account it
hould not be rejected on extensive prairies.
/ would be no objection, but rather an ad-
-antage 10 the prairie farmer, if the hedge
rev 80 feet in height A hedge of this
ind, if made to grow thick at the bottom,
will not only prevent the possibility of every
description of animals that would do damage |
o the crops, from passing through or over
!, but it would have a salutary influence in
the crops of grain and grasses,
nd vegetables, from raking winds and
torms, and in an especial manner would it
elieve prairie country from its frightfully
appearance. When allowed to
row some 25 to 80 feet in height, the timber
1ould become very valusble for posts and
ther purposes, and if cut down close to the
round, so that the stumps may be covered
nth fine mould to protect them from the sun,
prodigiously thick growth would spring up,
,hich would form perfect hedge the second
ear. The plant being tap-rooted, to re-
degree, no danger need be appre-
ended of its spreading over the ground like
ne locust, cotton wood and other varieties
f forest trees that are noted for their rapid
rowth and early maturity. In consequence
f this habit, may be attributed the extraor-
mary tenacity of life which peculiarly
lamps the character of this tree. Indeed,
q planting hundred thousand young trees.
here is no necessity of calculating one in
to fail in growing, and on this ac-
cunt a perfect uniformity in the appearance
f the hedge may be kept up, and defective
pots will rarely occur.
The conviction that the Usage orange plant,
all that ha been recommended for fencing
urposes, has taken strong hold of the
ubic mind in central and southern Illinois,
Iissouri, southern Iowa, Indiana and Ohio,
nd it is to be hoped that the most sanguine
expectations of its warmest advocates may
e more than realized. 1t will flourish in
ny latitude or climate where the peach will
row successfully in open culture, and even
the top limbs should become damaged
lightly by frost, it would only tend to make
le hedge grow more thickly at its bottom.