The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-04-19
Deoge Feqces.
Hedging----Osage Orange.

In England the training and care of
the hedge constitutes an independent
part of the farm operations, and on many
estates the hedger has grown up with the
hedge-with this particular branch in
charge, and no part of the labor neces-
sary for the permanence and beauty of
the hedge is for day neglected and
hence, in no part of the world are more
perfect specimens of the hedge to be
seen than in England. But the hedge
plants which thrive so well in the moist,
cool climate of England. prove. after a
few years, total failures under the dry,
hot sun of America.
The Usage Orange appears, by ma
ture, to meet exactly the requirements of
our climate as hedge plant. It's long,
lateral roots extend beyond the over
hanging branches of the hedge, and seem
to resist the most intense heat of the dry
est summers. But after all the trials
with this plant for hedging, except
where it has been employed by expert
enced and practical men, upon an ex-
tended scale, on the western prairies, We
venture to assert that fifty hedges hsve
been planted, which have proved COM
plete failures, where one has been train
ed to perfection.
The Usage Orange is naturally tree
which grows to the height of thirty or
forty feet, but which, under proper
treatment, bears restraint in hedge ad-
mirably, and unless cut back unsparing-
ly, and at the proper times, checking its
upward tendency, throwing the circula-
tion into the lowest lateral branches, so
as to produce a strong, dense base. 1t
runs at random, forming no protection
against the smaller animals, and proves
failure, with the loss of al. the labor
bestowed.
In the first place it is folly to attempt
TO cultivate hedge without full know
ledge of what is necessary to complete
success in planting and its subsequent
treatment and it is still greater folly to
incur the expense of growing the plants
and setting the hedge without bestowing
upon it the subsequent labor necessary
for the perfection of the work. For II
.ths necessary cuttings are omitted at the
proper time, there is no remedy but to
cut back TO the ground, and start anew,
and if this is neglected until the plants
acquire too great size, the attempted
hedge becomes a nuisance, and results
not only in loss of all the cost and Ia
bor bestowed. but requires no small
amount of labor to remove it. This is
the experience of thousands. and yeI
with proper care there is no plant thai
will produce more permanent and
beautiful hedge than the Usage Orange
Although the Usage Orange is ma
tive of southern climate. on dry land
it is found to Withstand the severest win
ters in ATTITUDES as high as the 42d ane
43d degrees.
PREPARING AND PLANTING THE SEED.
Seed of the previous seasons growth
should always b, procured If possible
but those year older, If they have beer
properly handled, viii generally vege
tate. Where the planting is to be done
on large scale, it is the practice o
some to soak the seed for day or two
and then mix them with twice their bull
of sand aud expose them in shallow
boxes about mid-winter to the frosts
but about as safe plan as any is to de
fer the soaking until about two weeks be
fore they are TO be planted. The seet
ARE very slow to vegetate, and require
higher temperature than almost any othe
kind. They should always be slight.
sprouted before they are planted. other
wise the weeds get the start of the youn;
plants. requiring no small amount of la
Dor to clean them out.
In latitude about 28o from the cot
to the 25th Of April, is the proper tim
to put the seed 70 soak. Warm wate
should be applied. and the vessels con
tanning them should be set in warn
place and remain there three or Icl
days. changing the water eyery day
drain the water of. and mix two parl
sand to one Of seed put them iato boz
es- Eve or SIX inches deep; cover the 10
with cloth, aud put them IN = VAR
place and keep them moist Hole
should be bored in the bottom of II
boxes to afford drainage In case. the,
should be % excess of water. IF Il
x ss -at and fho