The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-09-20
Pertaining to Hedges.

point OF TACT they were never very sue
cessful over wide extent of territory.
The idea of hedges was introduced from
Great Britain, where lumber is expen-
sive, and where labor is comparatively
cheap. Many other causes made hedges
popular in England. The owners of
land desired to beautify it rs well as to
render it useful. The hedge was an
adornment to the place, as well as a
protection against stock. The climate
of the country is favorable to the growth
OF the hedge-plant generally cultivated.
There is seldom a lack of sufficient
moisture. Neither the cold of winter
nor the heat of summer is sufficient to
injure the growing plants. Nearly all
the land is well drained. If there is not
good natural drainage, tiles are en-
ployed to carry off the supertiuous water.
The hawthorne does exceedingly well
in England. Itmakes a complete hedge.
1t stops cattle and beauties the prem
ises. The failure of hedges in this
country was due to several causes. The
hedge plant that was most successful
was the Usage orange. It was not
adapted, however, to very wide extent
Of country. 1t grows too large in the
extreme south and is too tender to en-
dure the cold of northern winters. It
viii not flourish well on land that is not
well drained. A great mistake was
made in the setting out and management
of hedges. The producers of hedge
plants informed farmers that it was
easy to raise the plants and to form a
good hedge. They gave in circulars a
few simple directions. They were use
full in selling the plants, but not in pro-
ducing good hedges. They afforded a
good example of how ga little knowl-
edge is a dangerous thing"
knowledge, experience and skill are
all required to make a good hedge and
to keep it in order so that it will be
serviceable and useful. The hedge must
receive attention at the proper time, no
matter whether labor is required else
where or not Few farmers who are
engaged in general work will succeed
in making good hedge, even if they
have a suitable plant, well drained
land, and live where the climate is IA
vorable. They will not be at sufficient
pains to learn how to do the work
properly. They will allow other labors
to interfere with the care of the hedge.
II the hedge needs attention during the
season of planting, sowing, haying, or
harvesting the chances are that it will
be neglected. The success of hedges
in European countries is largely due to
the fact that they are set out, cultivated,
and pruned by persons who follow the
business exclusively. They often take
contracts to set out, cultivate, and
prune hedges for term of years, and
they insure their work. They perform
all their operations at the proper time
and after the manner of experts. We
have had few professional hedgers in
this country, and for this reason,
among others, we have but few good
hedges. The amount of money that
has been expended in plants that never
made hedges is enormous. Much time
as well as money has been wasted
Most of the plants that have been set
out have served to disfigure the prem
ises instead of rendering them beauti-
full. Since the introduction of barbed
wire scarcely any attempt has been
made to cultivate hedge plants in this
country. During the past few years
more hedge plants have been uprooted
than set out. The hedge has served at
least one useful purpose. The thorn OF
the plant first suggested the barb on
the fence wire. Persons who call theEl-
selves inventors obtained patents on a
design of nature.
1t is likely that the interest in hedges
will be revived at no distant day.
Hedges viii be wanted for rendering
fields beautiful if not for protecting
them from stock. A fiat prairie farm
is likely to have dreary look. A wire
fence only adds to the dreariness.
Something is required to break the
snonotony. A great relief is afforded
by fine hedge. AS farmers become
wealthy and farms areimproved hedges
will probably come into use to CON
siderable extent. Experiments are now
being made with hedge plants that are
not indigenous to the country. Some
native but neglected plants are receiv-
ing attention. A Nebraska correspond
ent of the Rural Nes0- Yorker writes OF
one of them:
The Barberry is the best shrub for a
hedge. 1t never winter-kills; it grows
on any soil lives over hundred years,
and will turn cattle, horses, sheep,
hogs and even chickens, if planted in
the right way. | have a Barberry
hedge eight feet high loaded every fail
with beautiful scarlet berries, which
make the very best of preserves and
jellies. / have made very good wine
of the berries every fall. The yellow
blossoms it bears in spring in the
months of May and June are
very understanding. The golden vel
few roots are used for dyeing. My
hedge is eight years old has never been
pruned yet, and is to-day rs close as |
want it to be. Last year / raised from
$4,000 to 10000 plants, and about
ten bushels of the berries. This year
my hedge win be, if nothing hap
pens, loaded again with scarlet berries.
There is no humbug about it. I
can recommend the Barberry hedge
to every farmer in the country living
either in the timber or prairie. It saves
good deal of hard labor in making
those costly rail fences which ALWAYS
need repairing and always cause trouble
from cattle and hogs that push their
way through. The Barberry hedge has
numerous short thorns as n protection.