Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-05-22
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HOW TO RAISE OSAGE ORANGE
HEDGES

Preparation ofhe Seed.-Soak the seed
in soft water, letting it stand in warm room
for two or three days, changing the water
every twelve hours, to prevent fermentation;
then pour off the water and mix the seed
with an equal quantity of sand, or fine san
dy earth, ina shallow box or boxes, and let
stand in warm room, stirring it two or three
times day, untH the seed begins to Trout,
which it will do in from three to six days
observing to moisten it occasionally if it ap-
pears dry, and cover with an old cloth or
other article to prevent evaporation.
,Soping the Seed.-When thus prepared,
should be done about corn planting time, or
any other time in May, in this climate, when
vegetation is brisk and the ground is in good
order If bad weather or other causes delay
the sowing after the seed is about ready,
keep it in cool room, to prevent sprouting
till ready to SOW. Make the ground fine,
and SOW the seeds in drills or rows in the
same manner as gardners do the seeds of beets
or onions, bestowing similar care to keep the
plants free from weeds during thesummer. A
quart of seed, if it does well, will produce
from 5000 to 1000 plants; the usual price is
75cts. to 81 per quart, or SIS to $40 per
bushel. If the soil season and culture are
good, the plants will grow two or four feet
high the first season, and be fit for setting
in the hedge row when one year DID, Ifthe
soil is not too wet or spouty, the plants may
remain undisturbed over the winter; but if
in cold latitude, it is as we'll to ridge the
earth up against the stems with a hoe or
small plow, in the fall, to prevent their heay
ing out or killing with the frost. The tops
are commonly killed nearly to the ground
the first year, but that is no matter.
Preparing the Land for q Hc'lye,-is
point that is too often neglected, and this is
frequent cause Of failure. Where the soil
is not naturally deep and good, it must Je
deepened and enrrhed, by spading or trench
blowing, so as to form bed of at least 16
inches in depth of good soil, with manure
beneath, else it will be in vain to look for a
thrifty growth, and much time will be lost
in rearing the hedge. OF course, where the
soil is already deep and rich, as on prairies
and bottom lands, no enriching is necessary,
and the depth need not be greater than ten
or twelve inches The breadth Of ground
prepared should be at least eight feet, (Mr.
McGrew says ten, } or four feet on each side
of the line of plants, which is to be kept
stirred with plow or cultivator for the first
three years. Care must especially be taken
that no board or rail fense is suffered to stand
50 near the hedge as to shade it, Or prevent
the ground from being cultivated on both
sides. 1t will be remembered that the law
in Ohio allows all road fences to be removed
six feet on to the highway, except in towns
cities, y for sufficient length Of time for rails
ing hedge.
Setting the Mlye.-Having the ground
narrowed smooth and fine, and any inequali-
ties lcyeed, stretch line along the place to
work by; then, by having the plants prepar-
ed by cutting off the tops within an inch of
The collar, and shortening the tap roots about
one-fourth, so as to leave them I to 8 inches
long, then with sharp diJLle or instrument
pointed with iron orsteel, about twelve inches
long and an inch and half thick at the
top, make holes along the line six inchesapart,
deep enough to receive the roots so that the
tops will be Just even with the surface ofthe
ground; taking care as each plant is set to
press the earth firmly against the root, by
inserting the dibble into the earth about an
inch from its side, and pressing it towards
the plant. A little practice will enable any
handy person to perform this work quite rap
; idly.
The proper distance apart for setting the
plants for hedge, has been a subject of
some dispute, and We have with others
thought that possibly six inches will be found
too close for the greatest durability of the
hedge. But if wider interval is allowed,
more care and labor is required to cause the
plants to spread so wide and densely at the
ground as to prevent the danger of gaps for
small animals to pass through. 1t can be
done, however, and We have seen specimen
Of good hedge with the plants set one foot
apart. 1t has also been supposed by some,
that it was better to set the plants in dou-
BILE row, instead of single, but this has been
found disadvantage rather than benefit,
and is now discarded by all experienced
hedgers.
Care must be observed to protect the
young hedge from injury by stock, by ez-
Guiding animals from the field entirely, or
by placing a temporary fence of poles or
other materials along the line. Many hedges
have been ruined by allowing cattle or hor-
ses to trample OH the plants during the first
year after planting. Remember also to stir
the soil frequently with the cultivator, dur
ing the first two or three years, on each side
of the hedge, and keep it clear of weeds, as
you would a row of corn designed for pre-
MUM at the county fair.
Cutting doun the Heelge.-One year after
planting, if the season or soil was not very
unfavorable, the plants will have several
shoots each, from three to six feet in height,
and these three to six feet in height, and
these must all be cut off quite dorn to the
! surtace Of ground. (Ifthe growth, from