LIVE FENCES.—THE OSAGE ORANGE PLANT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 125, 28 May 1853, Page 5

LIVE FENCES.—THE OSAGE ORANGE PLANT.

[Prom the " Adelaide Observer.")

The means of enclosing the extensive tracts of wasteland which have lately been purchased in the province, the evident decay of. much of the existing fencing on the farms early cultivated, and the comparative scarcity of timber in several districts of the province, render the subject of live-fences one of paramount importance to cultivators and settlers. 'It may be interesting therefore, to give all the information we can as to the methods of enclosure adopted in other new-settled countries. The species of live fence treated of below was fully described in this journal about three years ago ; but finding in a recent number of the c Polynesian ' a very detailed and highly interesting account of the Machura Aurantica, or " Osage Orange Plant," as used by the Americans for live fences, we have felt a renewed desire to see it early introduced and extensively planted in the province. The seeds may readily be procured from Honolulu, the capital of the Sandwich Islands. OSAGE ORANGE HEDGES. The Machura Aurantica, or Osage tree, is found in portions of Upper Texas, Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and the southern portion of the Indian territory, in a native state ; and, in poiut of appearance, closely resembles the orange tree. It bears a large and beautiful fruit, which is remarkably tempting in appearance, but it is perfectly useless for m&\\ and beast. The foliage somewhat resembles that of the peach, but of a richer and more transparent green, and, in many respects, it may be ranked among the most splendid of the forest trees. Its growth is uncommonly prolific, so much so that, on a rich vegetable soil, it will throw out branches varying from three to ten feet in a single season. The growth is so rapid whilst the plants are young that it matures its wood imperfectly ; so much so, indeed, that in the centre of each stalk of young growth a pith is formed, closely resembling that of elder. Yet this influence does not extend beyond the second year's growth, and, as the wood perfects itself, it becomes gradually as hard a lignumvitae, and is as incorruptible as the cedar. In its native clime it ordinarily makes a growth of fifty feet in height, and when grown separately as standard trees will girt at maturity from eight to ten feet, four feet from the ground. Saw-logs three feet in diameter are frequently cut from this tree along the valleys of the Osage River; and the wood, though difficult to saw into lumber, and work with edge tools, is highly prized, from the fact that it not only makes a beautiful quality of furniture, but will take the highest and most perfect polish and finish. Among other peculiarities of this splendid tree, its limbs are densely covered with thorns, so sharp that no animal can safely come in contact with its foliage ; and owing to this peculiar quality it has recently been introduced as a hedging plant and the adaptation and management of which demand a somewhat critical notice at this particular crisis.

Being pretty thoroughly acquainted with the management of the English hawthorn for hedging purposes, which is known to be a dwarf or shrub, it is natural to look upon the introduction of a large class of forest trees for a hedging plant with doubtful forebodings ; and the more we investigated the subject the more convinced we became that those who planted largely for fencing purposes would ultimately have reason to regret it. The objections frequently urged on our part against the osage orange hedge are clearly indicated in the description given of the habits and character of the plant at the head of this article ; and although disposed to condemn the whole mania as a modern humbug, yet the importance of introducing a successful system of hedging became so apparent, from the great scarcity of fencing .timber in many localities, that; we were inclined against our supposed better judgment to look favourably upon a movement that might prove to be a great curse ori a blessing to ithe agricultural community. The rapid and 'enormous growth of the tree, its tendency to throw off lateral branches in nearly a horizontal direction, the large expenses to be incurred! in keeping the hedge in proper shape and limits, the aptitude of the plant forming „ standing tree, in spite of the numerous trimmings ''arid primings that maybe employed to convert it into a dwarf, and the natural' tendency of the lower limbs

and branches to decay, are among the chief reasons that prompted us to look coolly on at the movement for extending the propagation of the Machura for hedging purposes. The beauty of the plant, and its powers of resistance for fencing, aside from our apprehensions of its ultimate failure, prompt us to acknowledge that we are daily becoming more hopeful that the ardent friends of the speculation may realize their most sanguine speculations. Entertaining none but the most kindly feelings towards those who are engaged in the propagation and sale of osage orange plants, we shall, without further criticising their qualities, take a more practical view of the subject. The seed is gathered mostly by the Indians in Northern Texas and the Indian territories, and with much difficulty and expense is separated from the pulpy parts of the fruit; and its value ranges from 20 dollars to 10 dollars per bushel. Its nppearance resembles cucumber seed, and a quart of seed will produce 5000 plants. These plants of one year old command a price ranging from 5 dollars to 10 dollars per 1000, which will plant nearly one mile of fence, placing the plants a foot apart in the rows, or half-a-mile if planted in double rows 6 inches asunder, and a foot between each plant in the row, making them alternate, so that the plants will only be 6 inches from each, in the direct line. Double rows for small enclosures are thought better than single ones, even supposing that it took an equal number of plants to make the hedge; on account of the closeness that the bottom of the hedge-vow may be made, when it presents a broad base of thrifty growing young plants. On the priaries "of Central and Southern Illinois, the propogation of the osage orange plant for hedging purposes has been more engaged in than in any portion of the Union ; and latterly, the practice of planting only one row, and placing them a foot asunder finds favour among the practical farmers generally.

The seeds are somewhat difficult to germinate, and the practice almost universally adopted is to scald them with hot water before beingplanted in drills, and after being thus treated, put into a cask or vessel, and allowed to remain in a damp condition for twenty-four hours before being planted, by which treatment they will come up regularly, and if the seed be of good quality but few will miss in producing healthy plants. The seed should be sown two inches apart, in rows about 18 inches asunder, and the horse-hoe or cultivator by being passed between them about three times in the season, will thoroughly free the ground from weeds, and a simple and cheap process of cultivation of this kind will, in ordinary cases, secure a fine growth of plants the first year, averaging two feet in height. The period for planting seed 'may be safely delayed till "the ordinary season for planting corn, but no precise time appears necessary, as the plants are hardy, and early planting answers a good purpose, provided the soil be warm, and the sun has power sufficient to push forward a healthy growth ; and in 40 degrees north hit. planting has frequently been done as late as the 10th of June with admirable success. The hedge-row, previous to setting out the plants, should be brought into a high state of cultivation by frequent ploughings and harrowings, and a neat furrow may be made with the plough in the exact line where it is intended to plant the hedge. The planting may then commence, and by placing the plant perpendicularly against the furrows, the plough may again be employed covering the roots, aud in the hands of an expert workman the work may be as perfectly done as if the spade alone were used. The first year, the only thing requisite to be done, is to keep down the weeds, by working the land some three feet on each side of the row with a plough and cultivator, for the purpose of subduing weeds and grass, and getting the soil into a rapid state of tilth, so as to secure a luxuriant and rapid growth.

Some adopt the plan of heading down the plants even with the surface the first season they are removed to the hedge rows, and when this is done they push forward a stunted growth, and the object sought for is not so perfectly attained as if they were left unmolested until the spring of the second year. The great thing to be accomplished in rearing an osage orange hedge, is to get a thick and thrifty growth near the ground, and this may to a certainty be obtained by cutting down the plant the second year, before the leaves make their appearance in the spring, quite even with the ground, and by covering the stubs with about two inches of finely pulverized vegetable mould.

Each plant will send forth some six or eight' shoots, which, in an average of cases, will attain 4 ft. height during the succeeding summer. The third year, a sharp pruning hook may be used to head it down some thirty inches from the ground, and the fourth year the hedge will form a perfect protection against all kinds of stock, and even the smallest bird cannot pass through it without risking its life. In a wood country, where land is valuable and timber is of but little consequence, the hedge may be trimmed every spring for the purpose of keeping it in proper limits ; and in fact it appears absolutely necessary to attend closely to this matter where the farm is divided into fields of from ten to twenty acres each. The method of planting, trimming, cultivating, and heading down, may be varied to suit the taste and convenience of the owner of the hedge; and the one here adverted to, is adapted for those who may engage extensively in the business. Each cultivator has plans and views of his own ; but the system here recommended will be found to answer all practical purposes, and will be considerably cheaper than the common plans in use.

There can now be no question but that the Machura will answer an admirable purpose for hedging on the extensive prairies of the west; and if it should so turn out that it would not bear the requisite pruning, for a timbered country, yet on this account it should not be rejected on extensive prairies. It would be no objection, but rather an advantage to the prairie farmer, if the hedge grew 30 feet in height. A hedge of this kind, if made to grow thick at the bottom, will not only prevent the possibility of every description of animals that would do damage to the crops from passing through or over it, but it would have a salutary influence in protecting the crops of grain, and grasses, and vegetables from raking winds and storms, and in an especial manner would it relieve a priarie country from its frightfully monotonous appearance. When allowed to grow some 25 or 30 feet in height, the timber would become very valuable for posts and other purposes, and if cut down close to the ground, so that the stumps may be covered with fine mould to protect them from the sun, a *prodigiously thick growth would spring up, which would form' a perfect hedge the second year. The plant being tap-rooted to a. remarkable degree, no danger need be apprehended of its spreading over the ground like the locust, cotton wood, and other varieties of forest trees that are noted for their rapid growth and early maturity. In Consequence of this habit may be attributed the extraordinary tenacity of life which peculiarly stamps the character of this tree. Indeed, in planting 100,000 young trees, there is no necessity for calculating one in a 1,000 to fail in growing, and on this account a perfect uniformity in the appearance of the hedge may be kept up, and defective spots will rarely occur.

The conviction that the osage orange plant is all that has been recommended for fencing purposes has taken a strong hold of the public mind in Central and Southern Illinois, Missouri, Southern lowa, Indiana, and Ohio, and it is to be hoped that the most sanguine expectations of its warmest advocates may be more than realized. It will flourish in any latitude or climate where the peach will grow successfully in open culture, and even if the top limbs should become damaged slightly by frost, it would only tend to make the hedge grow more thickly at its bottom.