The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-09-08
The Ogape ORANGE Hedoe

W = nave ntl4u DuE LDlle ABOUT the neQge I
for some time past, having before given the /
fullest directions on the subject, from the 1
planting of the seed to the completion Of /
the hedge; yet, IN all our travels we meet /
with the most reckless disregard Of the rules /
that have been so frequently published that I
we are almost inclined to regard the whole |
hedge system in the United States as a fail |
ure; not however from any want Of adapta-
ton OF the Usage Orange to the purpose, but
from the lack of regular systematic treat
ment on the part Of the farmer The ten
deney of this error and the consequences,
we have frequently before alluded to- in all
the efforts at hedge making throughout the
West, we doubt whether there can now be
found one rod Of perfect, WellfOrmed hedge
70 mile that has been set, or even to five
miles. The plants have either been set and
lett to take care Of themselves without cul-
tivation, and have proved total failure or
II set and partially cultivated, the plants
nave been run up too speedily to an undue
height, without forming sufficient base to
turn small animals, while the top has become
so much overgown as to be beyond future
management and control We Americans
are so absorbed IN mOney-making, that mat
ters which require a set time for special at
tentlon are apt to be neglected, and the
hedge Is just one Of those things that must
be attended to at the proper time or all is
lost, leaving 1t nuisance not easily eradica-
ted
The Usage Orange may be trained into as
perfect and permanent a hedge where it IS
free from the depredatiOns of the ground
mice and the gopher, as any plant can in any
part OF the world. But no one must expect
TO accomplish this unless he makes up his
mind to do the work ut Just the proper time
and IN the right manner, from the period of
planting the seed to the completion Of the
hedge-and not only then, but on and on
through all time. The delay of single week
IN the cutting will prove iniurious-and
prolonged delay, fatal to the entire work.
While we have allowed the subject to rest
with our readers, it has been the experience
OF many Of them to witness miles of hedges
that have proved worse than failures from
the causes that we have named
In training hedge, after the plants have
been properly set in the row, late experience
has proved that it is better to let the plants
grow a second year before they are cut down,
and then they should be cut off even with
the surface OF the soil, and the cutting re-
peated, allowing and additional height for
the next year Of three inches; and after this,
there should be two annual cuttings, winter
and summer, with but few inches increase
In height after each cutting, while the lateral
or bottom shoots should remain for three or
four years uncut except those which may be
making an undue growth compared with the
branches generally. These, and any others
forming the upright of the hedge, that seem
to start with undue VIgOr compared with the
branches generally, should be held in check
at all times, by cutting off the ends Of the
shoots while young and tender; the labor
then, for a mile in extent, will require no
more time than for a man to walk that dis
lance.
The most important feature in forming a
complete hedge, where it is the design of the
cultivator to bestOw anything like the proper
care, as we have before intimated, is in Sc
curing sufficient circulation into lower late
raj branches to give them the required size
and strength to answer as a permanent base
to the structure The natural tendency OF
the Usage Orange plant is to grow upright
to shorten or cut off the stem of a single
plant will cause two or more shoots to start
IN the place Of the one that has been re
moved and to impart slight additional in
crease to the size of the lateral branches first
formed but unless watched and the uprights
again shortened, the main current of SAP
will soon be diverted from the lateral branches
and concentrated in the uprights-hence the
importance of cutting back the plants at the
ground the first regular cutting, and then tC
repeat the shortening at proper intervals, IN
order to divide and sub-divide the main
branches, thus multiplying the number by
edcn cutting IN Oruef 20 force as Inuch SAP
as possible into the lateral branches so as to
increase their size and strength and TO di
vide the main flow of sap into the greatest
possible number of channels thus equaliz
ing the branches throughout.
This is the great secret of forming a com
plete, durable and perfect hedge Without
this care, and cutting back as the proper
times, it is worse than useless to attempt tC
form live fences.
We have watched the result of this treat
ment with much interest, and have noticed
that where the lateral branches have ceased
entirely to grow and were altogether toe
small to answer the purpose of a substantial
hedge, a single cutting of the main branches
which were running up with undue vigor
caused renewal of the growth of the lower
branches, increasing their size and strength
to a degree that could have been caused II
no other way. This important feature Of
hedge growing must be remembered-fre
quent cutting at the beginning, leaving but
short growth at the intervals--multipiyin
the branches, increasing the laterals, and di
verting as much of the sap from the centra
and upright shoots as possible This, will
proper cultivation of the soil from the begin
ming, will insure cheap, substantial anC
beautiful hedge, as long as the proper Labor
is bestowed-W RIrdL WOTld