The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-03-22
New Hedge Plant.

Mr.. EDIToR:-Eyery house requires a good founda-
ton; every bank, to keep its treasures safe, needs a
good lock; agriculture, if success, advancement and
profit are expected, needs both, and both are 10 be
found in q good fence. Agriculture IN these islands
would have advanced much further, If it were not for
the want Of a material for solid and efficient enclo-
sures, a material which requires no heavy outlay in
money or labor. l believe, and every farmer will &C
knowledge the same, that the greatest drawback to
more extensive farming on these islands is to be found
in the want OF material for fencing within the means
of those who are willing to give their time, labor and
energy to agricultural pursuits. but are unable to
aElrd the heavy expenses which an extensive stone
fencing requires. As long as crops have to be raised
on open plains. exposed to the depreiations and incur
slons Of every stray animal, and requiring the watch
fulness by night of the laborer whose very bones ache
after n hard days toll, 30 long has agriculture on
these islands no solid foundation. Let the crop be
destroyed once, twice, or perhaps the third time, and
the farmer becomes disheartenel, and rather lets his
land law in pasture altogether. Let a good and eff
cieut fence be the strong lock to keep safe the treasure
Of 8 golden harvest and secure TO the farmer the re
munere ton for his toll and labor, and l am sure that
the time Will not be far distant when no California is
needed TO supply these islands with corn, barley,
pats, hay, and the very accessories Of life Alas, 1t
j. shame and a blot on these fair islands that such
= the case. anu lLtl Alr>c SAA+ my ILL I'M
plains are but esteemed fit for bullock pens.
l send you q single branch Che growth Of about
ten months rom the seed) Of q hedge plant, the in
PRODUCTION Of which will, I hope, mark a new era in
the agriculture Of these islands. The plant Is a species
Cpsalpiuea, and il largely used in the West Indies
for farming. 4 few seeds were procured from
Jamaica by the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society,
u rather it, Corresponding Secretary. As far as I
am ABLE to Judge, there is no plant that will make q
better or more impeuetraO.e hedge than this. Born
and raised in a country where every be.l : sur
rounded by a thrifty hedge, and every lane i fra
grant ard shaded BY hedges; where hedges are the
pride Of the farmer; where pounds, pound laws, tres
pass . al OHtHs genus, are words but known IN the
dictionary-I venture TO say that l am not wholly
uuacguaiutel with the requirements Of 4 good hedge
plant. AMI l respectfully invite those who have any
interest in the subject Of fencing, 10 give the Clesal-
pinea a fair trial. The shape of the thorn IS similar
to that Of the Cherokee rose, known a. one Of the best
and most Formidable hedge plants Of the Southern
States: but Il differs from the latter, and Is superior
10 II a. q hedge plant, because Il grows more rapidly
in thickness II stem. so as 70 support itself, while the
Cherokee rose requires a rail fence 70 support II for
the first two or three years. IL takes about I've years
for 4 Cherokee rose 10 produce a substantial fence,
while, TO judge from the specimens OF growth II this
garden. a plant Of only ten months growth Is already
50 formidable that no animal, l should think, would
ike to come il close contact With II Hogs, which 50
largely have the bump Of go-a-headitiveness devel-
opel, viii get completely stuck, except they take the
tack Of go-a-tailtiyeness Chickens. even, may make
much fuss, but are apt to leave their feathers, and I
would commend you to plant the sample in your
oSce cut Of reach Of coat-tails. The CRsalp.nea, I
find, : death On crino.Iue, rather.
In my opinion, s. good heige-plant should have
the following qualities /. Il should be Of rapid
growth >. Its -aoras or defensive attributes should
be sufficiently formiiab.e 10 deter any animal from
TO penetrate i 3. 1t should easily bear
+. II should not only bear every kind
OF muti.aJoa, hut, hyira-lke, sDrout cut numbers
Of shoots for cne lest .. Il should Re able 10 stand
drought IS well as wet. The Caesalpinea possesses
sl the above qualities. I made trial On three plants,
when over eight months old / mutllatei them
roughly by hacking Of the limbs with an old sword.
within two feet from the ground, and transpIantsI
them, and all grow. You vii se by the flowers !
send you that q hedge q this plant must be- very
There are from q t. - u tho-e large and
handsome flowers On any single plant. The reei
-ipen during the first eight months. ! was rather
lppreheasiye that the seed would sow Itself, but
although today i the twentieth Day q constant rain,
have uot found 4 single seif-sown plant
The C,es4lpiEea may perhaps not be recommend
- a heiEe-piaut 70 enclose yards, Hgwer-glrisns,
such ike, on account q IT. peculiar inclination
20 take hold q c~olt-t4ils AMI crino.ne. but 1t i in
ny opinion the very material 10 enclose extensive