ARBORICULTURE.—X.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2607, 15 August 1882, Page 3

ARBORICULTURE.—X.

There are many details of work immeconnected with the establishing of plantations, which would well repay an amount of thought and investigation on the part of all persons interested in tree culture. In fact the success of a plantation depends entirely upon the observance of minor details in selecting the site, preparing the land and fencing. And when we consider the importance of tree planting, the expenditure and labor, number of years it takes to yield a return, and beneficial influences which arise from all plantations, it becomes the planter to well consider every point, and mature ail his plans before embarking upon such a work as the formation of artificial forests, bo they ever so small. Of course in abbreviated contributions like these it is impossible to enter into, or even tonob upon many important matters directly connected with this subject, and aa this season is too far advanced for any remarks upon the preparatory work of plantations to be of aerv'sa this year, I will content myself with only alluding to the vexed question of “ fences.'’ In this province, more than any other in the colony, the want of a good hedge material is severely felt, not because we have no hedge plants in the country, but owing to the multitudo of qualifications which a fence must possess in having to combat such a number of drawbacks incidental to the province. The nature of our open plains, fertile top soil, and genial climate demands a fence or hedge plant which will not naturally spread by broadcasting its seed, and so become a nuisance to the country. This is the case with gorse and broom, and sooner or later there will no doubt be laws forbidding the planting of these materials. Grass fires, sparks from locomotives, Ac,, neopssitate a fence which will not easily take fire. The undoubted fitness of the province for pastoral pursuits require a fence impervious to sheep and cattle. The absence ’of long and severe winters, which in colder latitudes keep down the spread of insects, compels us to find a hedge free from the ravages of blight, scale, smut and leech; and that impatience peculiar to colonists seeks a fence of rapid growth, which will soon form shelter from the prevailing wind* of the country. Now a hedge capable of performing these functions would be a great boon to the province, and T think a careful perusal of all the hedge plants available will give us the desired result. Gorse, hitherto planted so largely, is the worst possible fence imaginable; looking at it from a pecuniary point of view, I cannot conceive why it has been planted so much, and why men still persist in using it; the constant cutting to keep it in order, and labor in keeping it from monopolising every paddock, make it a most expensive fence. It Is easily set on fire, harbors vermin, and has the only recommendation of being a quick grower. Broom, owing to ite prolific nature and non-resistance to cattle, is, of course, out of the question. Thorn or quick, used extensively in many countries, where it forms fences which cannot be surpassed, is, unfortunately, subject to many evils in this province. What with the scale preying upon the bark, and the loach destroying the leaves, this hedge plant has a hard time of it, and rarely does credit to the position it hold* in other lands. Being cattle proof, not easily fired, not given to spreading, not requiring to be out often, and from its compact habit (although decidom), giving shelter all the year round, it is a matter of regret that in this country this excellent hedge plant cannot be recommended by itself. The holly undoubtedly forms the most imposing fence in creation, when planted in tolerably good soil; but, like the quick, in this country it is subject to a variety of diseases, which retard its growth, disfigure its appearance, and prematurely cause it to lose its lower leaves. African box thorn possesses many qualifications as a fencing material; in the first place, being of easy growth, it can be supplied in large quantities at a very cheap rate, a consideration of great import when treating of fences for paddocks and plantations. It is impossible to fire it, will not spread to any great extent, is not liable to ravages of insects except an occasional caterpillar, forms capital shelter, and is evergreen. Still, like all other fences this has its drawbacks —first, in being indigenous to a country much warmer than Canterbury, it will be limited in its distribution, for even in Christchurch it is affected by the frosts ; second, it requires fair soil to make any headway, and when in good soil its growth is so rapid that to make a compact fence it must be cut at least every season. The non-erect habit of this plant causes it to become top heavy if not kept closely cut, and if neglected in after years, when the posts and wires have been taken away which at first held it np, the high winds will cause it to fall open, and result in a most unsightly fence. Another great drawback arises out cf its chief recommendation, non-firing, for the vast amount of clippings taken of it every season cannot be left in paddocks, and as they cannot be burnt like gorse, a few days after cutting, they must be carted into a heap and left for a considerable time before they can be destroyed. This incurs a deal of extra labor, which however is more than counterbalanced by the other points already mentioned .

Berberis vulgaris, or the common barberry, is one of the best hedge plants known. In America it is extensively used, and is found to be completely cattle proof. It is of quick growth, possesses the great quality of throwing up stems from the roots, which soon forms an impenetrable mass, and when planted about one foot apart runs into a continuous brake, which, if out back occasio*ally, (presents a fence second to none. In this province the barberry seems to be quite at home, and flourishes in almost every variety of soil and aspect conceivable.

Berberis dawlnii forma a beautiful garden hedge, and if severely treated during the first years of its growth, can be made to withstand the pressure of cattle; hut not being of such a formidable nature as the common barberry, besides having a more procumbent habit, it never forms the useful compact fence its allied species does. And when we consider that the common barberry can bo produced at one-tenth the price of Darwinii, it at once becomes evident that the common species must be the one for fences in this country. The Gleditachia, a plant armed with powerful spines, has often been utilised for cattle proof fences in England, France, America, and Victoria. There is no doubt that this makes a fence impenetrable to either man or beast, and as formidable as a mass of barbed wire. The only objection to it is the deciduous nature, which, however, docs not interfere to any great extent with the shelter giving quality so needful in fences for this province. A great point in its favor is the ease with which it is propagated and established.

The elder produces a first rate fence for timber enclosures, ehelter hedges, and general breaks to high winds ; it is even cattle-proof when properly planted and cut. In fact, this fast-growing tree can ba so utilised as to form a complete wall of living timber, impenetrable even to cats. Privet, laurels, and euonymoua form splendid screens and general garden fences, but cannot be looked upon aa suitable for farmers or planters. The came can be said of maorocarpa, arbor vitro, O. Lawsoniana, ice. ; still it is ai easy matter to render any of these three cattleproof by planting thickly and cutting in severely after allowing them to reach a considerable height, and I know of no fence to even approach one of arborvitas when properly treated, for it possesses every qualification, and can be reared to any height, kept to any shape, ond lasts longer than any other hedge material. In these respect e it far excels O. maorocarpa which owing to its giant habit soon acquires a size too large for fencing purposes, and if kept in bounds by close pruning, scon becomes unsightly and before many years perishes. Many more plants could be mentioned as being suitable in some respects for fencing, but a glance over those already enumerated will be sufficient for any one in search of the best possible hedge to establish. In England the most serviceable and lasting fence is made of a mixture of quicks and hollies ; the best shelter giving fence of quicks and beech, or hornbeam. In America the barberry, arborvil», or a mixture of osage orange, ere stated to be the best. In South Africa the box thorn, agaves, and opuntia, form good fences ; and so we could go from one country to another, and find that each ha* its own peculiar fencing plants, all suitable for the respective requirements. Having carefully gone into this matter as applicable to Canterbury, I have r .me to the conclusion that a mixture of two thirds African b .x thorn and one-third quick thorn is the only [hedge capable of meeting the multiplicity of drawbacks to a fence in this province. Tnc quick is assisted in its growth by the box thorn, is almost entirely freed from the

ravages of insects, and looses its caked ap* pearacce in the winter by being clothed with the evergreen branches of the box thorn. On the other hand, the failings of the box thorn are alleviated by the quick, for its erect stout habit prevents its procumbent partners from being blown open, and so combined their separate qualities result in a fence without a drawback. Oheis. Mudd.