Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-03-21
HEDGES.

EDITORS WESTERN RURAL:-Articles
have appeared in the Rural from time
to time regarding the practicability of
hedges and whether it was in the inter-
est of economy and good judgment to
grow line fences. In one of our issues
in June an article appeared which at
tracted the attention of the manager
of the Michigan Hedge Company, Mr..
ID. w. Aylworth, and correspondence
was opened which resulted in an invi-
tation on the part of the manager to
the editor of this paper to visit Kala-
mazoo, Michigan, the headquarters of
the company. Now 1t is well known
that the Rural aims to be just and
honorable, and in view of what had
already been said. pro and con, through
its columns, as well as to see and Judge
of the improvements claimed in con-
structing hedges. a representative visi-
ted Kalamazoo few days since. Upon
riding through the surrounding coun-
try as well rs the suburbs of the beau
tiful little city, many fine fences were
seen, including several miles of the
company's work in different stages of
growth, we found that the plans and
patents in use by this company COM
pletely revolutionized hedge culture
and produced most satisfactory re-
suit, so far as we could see. Old and
neglected hedges have been converted
into perfect and handsome fences. The
growth becomes so compact by this
process, from the surface of the ground
up, that the smallest pig or chicken
cannot get through. This result is
brought about by combination of
wire and hedge which is very practical
and rendering it very strong and SER
viceable. After careful examination
it could readily be seen why the COM
pany lays claim to being practical and
ornamental hedge growers. We very
naturally became interested in the
company and its resources. We found
it comfortably located in commodious
and we'll appointed offices, being the
legitimate successor of the Dayton
Hedge Company in this territory. The
Michigan Hedge Company is organized
under the laws of Michigan, with a
paid up capital of 100000 It's stock
holders are among the best citizens of
Kalamazoo and surrounding country,
including prominent bankers, manu-
facturers, capitalists and farmers, and
of their responsibility there can be no
doubt. The business is ably and care
fully conducted as the many patrons
in Michigan conclusively show. The
company requires its patrons to pre-
pare and cultivate the hedge row dur
ing the first three years of the growth
of the hedge. The plants are furnished
and set by the company, together with
all the trimming, wiring, "plashing"
and pruning necessary, until a COM
plete, stock-proof and ornamental
fence is obtained. But while the COM
pany is reliable and responsible, farm
ers should know when they contract
that hedge plants will not thrive on
wet, marshy grounds, neither will they
grow well under trees. and that good
cultivation is as necessary as in raising
corn. Many who attempt hedge grow
ing will undoubtedly fail from this
cause. The company will furnish on
application testimonials from promi-
nent farmers in Lenawee, Hillsdale,
Branch and other counties, for whom
it has planted and completed hedges.
We would advise no one to contract
with the company for hedges unless
he is willing to give the necessary care
to the same. To neglect is to fail.
II. y. BRINKERHoFF.