The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-03-07
For the Eagle.
How to Set 9 Hedge Fence,

Ed. EAGLE:-As hedging is an inn
portant subject in this country and
one that every farmer should be deep
ly interested in, and have a good
knowledge of the most practical meth
cd of making hedge, and judging
from observations have made, there
is great lack of this knowledge. l
think that few hints in that direc-
ton would be of use.
To make success of raising hedge
VIC must have well prepared hedge
row, good healthy plants, then have
them properly set and well cultured.
The row should be broke in June
from one to two rods wide, stirred
again in August or September, and
then stir and harrow well the follow
ing spring and it will be in good
order to receive the plants. Good
strong one year old plants are prefera-
BILE, the more roots they have the bet
ter. Plow deep furrow where your
plants are to be set, then place your
plants about twelve inches apart in
the furrow, leaning them az ainst the
side of the furrow from which the
furrow was turned Tor on the land
side Of the furrow). Care should be
taken to cover the roots soon, SO that
they may not get dry. Draw the dirt
over the roots with hoe, covering
them well, then tramp the earth firm
ly on them, then hoe some more dirt
over them filling the furrow, but,
don't pack this last covering, this will
prevent the earth from baking. Now,
it needs nothing but good cultivation
until it is four years. old. You might
as well expect to raise good corn with
out good cultivation, as to raise
hedge-keep it clean of weeds and the
ground well pulverized. A good stand
is very important thing as it is
difficult task to make good hedge out
of poor stand; replants does not
succeed well. If the stand is poor you
better plow up and commence anew
next spring, but. if the above condi-
tions are complied with, there need
be but little doubts of good stand.
Water should not be allowed to stand
upon the hedge row-better drain the
water of, than raise the hedge row
out of it. AT four years old the hedge
will probably be large enough to lap,
commence at one end SO as to lap over
and not spring back-cut as close to
the ground as possible on the opposite
side from which you are to lap it
lean this down in line with the
hedge cut, the next in the same man.
ner and lay it down on the former
one and so continue to do until all the
hedge is laid down. In tapping it will
be necessary to trim and cut out some
but only enough to let it come down
to proper height, which is about
three feet. An angle of As degrees is
about the angle the canes should
make. If the hedge is too high when
brought to this angle let the top be
trimed off. This work should be done
in the spring before the bark slips, or,
it can be done in open weather in the |
winter.
Now. the principal growth of new
wood will be from the roots, or
stumps below, where it was cut to |
lap it over aud there will be an abund-
ance of strong shoots sent up which |
will soon extend above the old wood.
In July, or any time before this new
growth gets to hard, take an ordinary
corn cutter and cut the tops off even
ly at such heIghth as may be desired,
also trim the sides off evenly to such |
breadth as may be desired; two feet is |
breadth enough. There will be small |
growth made after this first trimming |
which should be cut again before the |
wood gets hard. In this way hedge |
can be made so that it will be protec-
lion to crops, and at the same time all
ornament to any farm. There may be |
some trouble with east and west lines
On account of the wind turning some
Of them out of place before the new
shoots would grow up and hold them.
We had but little trouble in this di-
rection in Illinois, where my exper-
ence in hedging was small stakes
lriven down through the brush at in
ervals of four to nine feet, which
,byiates this trouble, should it arise.
There is another method some prefer,
which is as follows: Trim the hedge
o single canes then cut one of them
,G to every three or four feet, three
eet high, then cut as in the other case
md lay down with the same angle as
bove described, all the remaining
mes, aud weave them in; this is
roof against the wind. Farmers
ften make mistake in putting out
edge, they put it out on the lines
7here it is often but little needed,
nd neglect the pasture which should
9 the first thing attended to.
Don't put in too much hedge so
hat you can't attend it well, a few
DDS of good hedge is valuable, while
lilies ofneglected hedge is worse than
seless.
FARMER WoULDBE.
LINCOLN, Feb. Is, 1878.