The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-07-25
Shenandoah Hedge Fence Company

/ Shenandoah Hedge Fence Company
4 Wednesday of last week, Mr.. NJ. Kings
/ bury. Agent of the Shenandoah Vale!
Hedge Fence Company, took a party o
gentlemen to HarrisOnbug to exhibit TIT
work done by his Company in Rocking
ham county, and to see the practical
benefits of the Hedge Fence. The Re
porter of the VIRGINIAN, with severa
other gentlemen, took the early tram
and on reaching Harrisonburg, took
hack and drove to several farms neal
the town to see the fence. The flrs1
place visited was Mr. James Rollers
Mr. Rollers fence was not planted by
the Shenandoah Company, but IT Is o.
/ the same material Usage Orange, anc
/ shows what may be done with Hedge
Fence This fence was planted thirteen
wears ago. 1t has grown to about five
feet high, when properly trimmed, is very
! thick, and completely stops the passage
of the smallest stock. The fence is very
ornamental, and when properly attended
( to and regularly trimmed, adds greatly
to the appearance of farm. Mr.. Roller
prizes his fence very highly, and thinks
/ it enhances the value of his property
We next visited the farm of Mr.. Win
Liggett. The fence there is three and
half wears old and was set out by Mr.
Kingsbury' Company The trees are
well grown, though Mr.. Liggett said the
soil was Door. and he had not given the
plants the attention they should have
! had. The trees are now ready foi
''plashing" This is a new method fol
/ putting out and preparing the Hedge
Fence. When the trees are sufficiently
grown, say 2 to years old, you dig out
the earth from between the trees, and
/ bend them in the roots, at an angle OF
! about forty-tive degrees, and I'LL in the
! earth. leaving the trees in this position
! This does not in any way Interfere with
/ the growth of the foliage but the effect
/ is to cause the sap to flow up to the up
per side of the beet plant, where innu-
merable sprouts are thrown out. which
cause the hedge to thicken. The bodies
of the trees are secured and stiffened by
/ four wires which are fastened to them
/ by staples specially designed for the
purpose The fence is thus made stout
/ the sprouts thicken rapidly, and the pc
culiar treatment OF the trees prevents
lateral roots and sprouts. Mr.. Roller
trimmed small portion of his fence in
/ the presence of the visitors. 1t is an
easy and simple process, and is done
very rapidly; and when properly done,
( the fence is highly ornamental. The
/ space occupied by the fence is no more
than that occupied by a board fence,
and much less than the space taken up
! by worm fence By successive trim
mings the fence becomes so thick as pre-
vent the passage of the smallest animals
and even chickens Grain and grasses
! grow close up to it. At Mr.. Rollers we
found he had cultivated close up to the
/ fence. The cost is $1.25 per rod, which
is as cheap as any ether first-class fence.
! We saw other plants, not long put out
doing well, in spite of the noticeable ne
glect of the proprietOrs of the farms.
Mr.. Kingsbury has organized Company
in Rockingham county, and quite a
number of farmers have planted the
Hedge Fence Win. Liggett, one mile G.
Killian, 90 rods Peter Wenger, one mile
and % rods Capt. Leming, 1 J miles; Capt.
/ Wilson, half mile; Peter Richard, Coun-
ty Treasurer, one-fourth mile; Moffatt
| Newman, 200 rods; George Hollar, one
and large number of other farmers in
the county,
Mr.. Kingsbury will call on our farmers
for the purpose of organizing a Compa-
ny in Augusta county. He is gentle
man of pleasing address, is thoroughly
posted on the subject he has in hand,
and has abundant confidence in the val
lie and genuine worth of his enterprise.
! We bespeak for him the kind favor OF
/ our farmers. Its advantages are:
list. The original cost is probably lit
tie greater than the ordinary rail fence,
but at the end of ten years its cost will
have been much less, and it decreases in
rapid proportion forever thereafter
I Cd. When completed it will turn all
kinds Of domestic stock, as well as man
3D.. The actual space occupied by the
Hedge Fence is from two to three feet
less than the worm fence
4th. Small grain, grasses and clover
will grow Immediately up to tin fact
through it and leave no vacant space.
9Th. When properly pruned each yea1
we believe it will live, and be a perfect
fence for fifty years or longer.
9th. 1t is very ornamental. really beau
tiful, and we hope it will stimulate our
farmers to improve and beautify their
fields
18th. We believe it to be virtually proof
against wind, bird hunters, and other in
truders, and that it can not be used as
our rails too often are, for making fires.
Stil. We examined carefully for lateral
roots and sprouts, but found none.
9th. With proper annual care and at
tention to the Hedge Fence, we think it
i 1apfna lv fro