The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-01-11
Chr farmer.
Fences and Hedges.

the great cost entailed upon the farming
community by the system Of fencing, and
the scarcity of fencing timber. The De-
partment Of Agriculture, at Washington,
has made it the subject Of recent investi- |
CATION, and its estimate Of the cost of
fences in the United States, with the cost
Of one years repairs added, is the enor-
nous sum Of 81 ,946, 1856, l13 This amount
is very nearly equal to the government
debt, and little over the estimated value
Of all the farm stock in the entire country.
The scarcity of timber has led to the
introduction Of hedges, in some sections,
especially upon the prairies Of the west,
where the Usage Orange makes an inval-
liable live fence. The Black Thorn has
been used, in some sections, in the older
States, but the Usage Orange is now SUI
perseding all other thorns, as affording the
best material for the purpose. 1t is ex-
tensively used in New Castle and Kent
counties, in Delaware, where it is neatly
kept and closely trimmed, and may be
seen in its highest perfection, rivalling the
most perfect hedges Of the most highly
improved districts Of England. Indeed,
if we may judge from what We read, the
Delaware hedge is far in advance of the
English hedge for beauty and excellence.
We have never travelled in England, but
as the idea of live fences was introduced
into this country from England, where
they have been cultivated for centuries,
one would expect to find them in greater
perfection there. But, We take up Prof.
Hoppin's work on @Old England, and
quote from this observant Yale scholar, as
follows:
awe we're travelling in the neighborhood OF
Woodstock The road here, whether over
hill or through dale, was bordered by the in
variable hedge-rows, and the fields divided by
the same. Yet even the English hedge is said
to be getting into disrepute among the farm
ers, because it takes up valuable ground, and
nests 50 many predatory little birds" 1.-THE
objection, so far as it relates to birds, IS not
valid one, for birds are insecuverous' ana
friends Of the farmer, in destroying insects
that prey upon his crops.l ''But may the
Fnol;sb hedge never give way. 1t has bios
so,e;Dr tangled conclomeration ofbriar, rose,
and thorn, impervious to anything but an
English fox-hunter's rush The Hawthorn,
Or Whitethorn' Is the CHEF Oasis OF an hnsl.sn
neage, ls 'ncA' laAas' ,,. .Oaes' !, e - =
~ 1alA Nh ,a,;. - ,s-,,ns Il he months !,
Mav M, lime. comes ON every breze over the
felds,--
The ,allwhise thorn that scents the evening gale.
But every other kind Of blooming running
thing mixes up with it, the wild rose, the
blackberry with ITS colored MOVERS inc stone
a.ssssr- n ~ sr ,,-;ah,-graan bocttborp. and
The hazel whose long tassels, or catkins, are
the first blossoms of spring. All these left to
grow and Irvine together, on sacred ridge,
one might say tor centuries, 'nen we get the
hnglsn nease-'o 8 sven 0a.' r HoSsss' !;
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;nt,.aer Hers and tbare neolecte
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