Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-24
Forests and Hedges.
VIEWS OF THOMAS b. ooURsEY, READ BEFORE
THE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF KENT
nnuNTY-

VIEWS OF THOMAS Is. OOuk5hf, hhAD bhfoish
THE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF KENT
COUNTY.
SPRING Mills, KENT Co., DELI
December 9th, 1872.
MANLovE HAYES, Eso.-Esteensed Friend
Circumstances over which have no control,
and of which you are perhaps already ac-
quainted, will prevent my being present at the
meeting of the Agricultural Association on
Saturday next regret that 1t is so, for |
very much desired to be with you on that
occasion, and intended Gf nothing better
offered to engage the attention of those pres
ent,) to call the attention of the Association
to the importance of tree culture. do not
mean fruit tree culture, over which we have
had such mania as to extend it beyond
profit, but forest trees, especially chestnut pine
and locust Had been able TO attend your
meeting, intended to have brought sore
small sections taken from tree grown by
myself as demonstrating what can be done
nv what has been done. / had tree cut in
part for this purpose. 1t was planted in
1910, and when cut last spring had obtained
height of sixty-five feet. had 1t cut into
l6 feet lengths. The first log measured at the
large end 18 inches in diameter the second
l3 inches, the third 10 inches. 1t measured
8 inches in diameter fifty feet from the
ground above this stick that would make
| two good rails. The first log will make six
| teen fence boards six inches wide and one
| inch thick The whole would make from
| twenty-five to thirty boards. This tree grew
on the banks of the creek where no crops
could grow, and cost comparatively nothing.
There was time when the advocacy OF
growing forest trees in Delaware, wouli be
| like carrying Goals to New Castle. But such
is not the case now, as may be seen by any
one passing through this county with his
ewes open whole sections have been de
nuded of every vessel of timber and we
are now dependent on the noun
talns of Pennsylvania for fencing material
for our farms Right here in a section which
a few years ago was the paradise of wood
| choppers large quantities of cedar rails and
hemlocd fencing boards are sold every year.
These lumber bills are heavy drain on the
county, and had as well be kept at home; for
even the supply from Pennsylvania has a
limit, and has about trebbled in price within
my recollection. Hedges are taking the
place of rail fence, and are good substi-
tute, but to my mind only substitute. Ii
kept in perfect order thay are rather orna-
mental than otherwise, But it requires an
immense amount of labor to keep them in
that condition, and If not so kept, they are
a nuisance, especially along public high
way. Hedges cost more than they seem to
from superficial observance; ! crossed a
farm some time ago, on which there was
hedge between two fields, and board fence
between two others; the grain by the hedge
had quite margin, while that by the fence
was growing almost under the rails.
l calculated that the difference under cult
walton would renew the board fence If need
ed every twelve or fifteen years, and save the
labor of hedge trimming two or three times a
wear, Furthermore. 1t is almost impossible