The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-06

IiAHNAiNn
The practice of surrounding fields
with hedges for the purpose Of protect
ing the crops from animals, which was
introduced into various parts of this
country after posts and boards became
expensive. and when fence-rails could
not be readily obtained, has, since the
introduction of barbed wire, been gen.
orally abandoned. The hedge-row,
which was so popular in England and
In several countries on the continent of
Europe, was never a great success in
the United States. We have had no
indigenous hedge-plant that was adap-
ted to the soil and climate of any large
portion of the country. The Usage
orange. which was obtained from Tex
as, did fairly well in localities where
the winters were not very severe and
where there vas good natural drain
age. 1t failed where the winters were
very long and cold, and in places
where there was insufficient drainage.
Several entcrprising persons made for
tunes in selling seed and plants, and
others realized considerable in selling
works on hedges, and implements for
trimming them. A few obtained O liv-
ing during several seasons by taking
contracts to set out Osage-orange
plants and TO keep them in proper con-
dition till they would make an efficient
hedge.
Lack of a plant that was adapted to
a varying climate and q great diversity
of soil is not the only thing that pre-
vented the general establishment of
hedges in this country. Few of our
farmers understood how to raise, set
out, and properly manage hcdge-plants
so as TO form a beautiful and useful
living fence, such rs is seen in foreign
countries. Many attempted TO perform
all their operations by the aid of such
information as they obtained from cir
culars issued by the nurserymen who
dealt in seeds and plants or the manu-
f~acturers of hedge-trimming imple-
ments 1t is no great wonder that
they failed. Hedging is an art that
can not be learned by reading the cir
cular of an advertiser or d short article
in a paper. 1t is a trade that must be
learned under a suitable instructor. 1t
must be practiced for a considerable
time before n having q natural apti-
tude for it can become an expert. In
countries where hedges are alike BEAU
tiful and effective in stopping cattle
professional hedgers have charge of
the plants from the time they are
started in the nursery till they have at
tanned their full growth. Even then
they continue to prune them every
season.
During the past few years more rods
of hedge-rows have been uprooted in
the west than have been planted. The
barhed wire, which was suggested by
the barbed bush, has taken the place
of it in forming protection for fields.
Still, there is a growing interest in
hedges in many parts of the west. Es-
pecially is this the case among farmers
who have their places well improved.
They have their fields surrounded by
fence made of posts and barbed wire.
They stop the progress of stock of all
kinds. but they are invisible at a dis
lance, and unsightly when the beholder
is near TO them. Many farmers are ac-
cordingly setting out rows of fruit,
barberry, arbor-vite or hawthorn on
the lines where they intend 10 have d.
v~isiop-iences. Some are planting trees
a rod apart in these rows, partly with
Il view of aflording variety and partly
for supporting barbed wire. 1t is the
intention to attach the wire TO the
trees instead OF to posts. The plan is
an excellent one. These fences will be
ornamental us well us useful. They
will beau,ify the farm, while they will
afford considerable protection against
winds. They will greatly improve the
appearance oil Tie lc!ds they surround
aud render them more productive OF
crops that require some protection.