FARM HEDGES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4406, 26 April 1922, Page 1

FARM HEDGES.

A VALUABLE SPECIES.

(By W. H. Taylor., Horticulturist.)

Since the publication of, the article on ‘‘Farm Hedges" in the last November issue of the Journal of Agriculture several correspondents have asked for information regarding a { specie': of barberry used as a hedge plant in certain parts of the Waikato and Thames Valley districts. Inves-, tigatioij has accordingly been made, resulting in the observations here recorded. The most extensive hedges are on the 700, acre property of

Messrs Bowler Bros., about three miles from Matamata. I am indebted to ,the courtesy of -these gentlemen for assistance in investigation, and in particular to Mr Edward

Bowler, who drove me many miles and enabled me to inspect 'hedges on other properties in the district!, at the same time giying all the information possible. The plant known -as the common barberry is the species planted in most, parts of- the Dominion, and there are a good many hedges of this plant in the Waikato. One of the characteristics of this plant is 'he freedom with which fruits are produced ' Birds readily eat the fruit, and seeds dropped with their excreta are investing hilly ground in . some d’stricts with, a growth that i.t may eventually cost large* slims to eradt-’ cate. This factor doubtless influenced the recent addition of common barberry td the. Third- (optional) Schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act. The plant which is the special subject of these notes is in general appearance precisely similar to the common barberry. Without close examination no difference can be de-, tected. but so rarely does it fruit that though many miles of hedgeswere examined I was unable to find a fruit. The plants flower in profusion, but they fail to produce a fruit. Lest it ■be thought that climatic ,or soil conditions are the cause,. I may say that the common,.-.barber, ry in hedges divided from the othec plant only by a road was in a number of cases carrying heavy crops of fine fruit. - Hedges of the Waikato barberry ,of various ages from two years to upwards of twenty years from planting were examined. ■ The oldest hedges average 'from 10ft to 12ft in height, about 3ft through at the bottom, and about 4ft. at the top, possibly a little more. No trimming .whatever has been done, at any time. The plants, are. raised from cuttings in a nursery bed. They ar;e then planted 3f.t apart in a single row, which is placed under the bottom wire of a fence. M" Edward Bowler’s experience is that the plants in this position ■ need no other protection from 'cattle; they are not trodden down, which does occur when the plants are placed clear, of the fence. This plan saves double fencing. The plants, of courses grow up on each- side off the fence whicn remains in the middle to strengthen', the hedge. The two lower wires are taken away wlie.n the fence has grown above them'; they are not Required In the hedge, and are available for use elsewhere. Another difference between the two species of barberry is the suckering habit of the Waikato plant.. Suckers are sc freely produced that in a few years the line of; hedge is completely closed up and makes an impenetrable barrier. I examined hedges in several places, and a few inches above ground was una.ble to get by hand through sideways with, fingers outstretched. It would appear to be practically impossible for any ani-' mal larger than a rat to get through the hedge unless it might be in some place weakened by accident, and I saw no such place. The suckering habit is restricted to a very narrow space; the plant does not produce stolons that break-up at a distancein no place did. I see a sucker more than a few inches from the stool, and the shekering habit. is thus all to the gcod-—it has ho bad points. RAISING AND PLANTING. ■ As previously stated, the plants are raised from cuttings.in a nursery. In the case of the ordinary barberry this would be a formidable task, but, here again the peculiar habit of the Waikato, plant is an advantage. Passing along a hedge one sees numbers of strong, straight shoots reaching out from the top. These shoots, one would naturally suppose, started from somewhere near the top', as they would with most plants,. In this case they originate from near the base of plants and make their ,way rjght up through the hedge. The shoots are about half the thickness of one’s litfinrer, quite straight, and free from branches. The shoots are whatever height the hedge is, and are easily drawn out when severed at the base. A forge number of such rods can be got in a short time. The rpds, are cut into 7in or Bin lengths • and are inserted in the ground so as to cover air but the two top buds. The plants are ready the following year fo be planted in the hedgerow. It> the meantime the only attention ■ required is to keep them free from! weeds. I saw several rows of cuttings in Messrs Bowler’s garden—for they are still extending their hedges —and not one cuting had failed to grow. June or July is the time to put in cuttings. The Bowler brothers are strongly opposed to planting the cuttings in. the hedgerow. They point out, as I have myself a number of times, that, it is absolutely necessary to keep th© soil around cuttings loose and free from weeds until they are well rooted. It is much more economical to

do this when they are concentrated] in a small space and-close at hand than in a long line of hedge, ppssibly

at a distance, where they are s.ure to be neglected. Experience has shown that where cuttings are so planted losses occur, gaps are left that cannot be satisfactorily- filled, and a poor hedge results. White at Matamata I saw an example of such planting. There were numerous gaps in a hedge at least 'four years old. Cuttings inserted in a nurse bed became well footed during the first season, and are ready for planting from late autumn to spring, as may be most The site of the hedge should be prepared by deep digging some time before planting, so as to expose the soil to the beneficial effects of sun and air. IDENTITY AND HISTORY. Some correspondents who. have in quired about the plant have referred to it as Berbers! aristata. I believe this to be incorrect. An authority in my possession describes Berberis aristata (a native of northern India) as similar, in appearance to Berberis vulgaris, with lar.ge blue-green berries, whereas the few berries seen on the special, Waikato form of barberry were red. I believe the Waikato plant to he one of; the forms, of the European Berberis vulgaris. The term “vulgaris” is applied to a dozen different forms of the type plant. All have yellow flowers, and the fruit is either red, violet purple; black; yellow, or white. There is also a form that produces seedless berries, except while the plants are young, when they contain seeds. As before stated, in general appearance the Waikato plant is exactly, like .the barberry that is generallj’ known in this ;couni try. The blossoms are yellow. a.nd the rarely seen fruits are red instead of black. ■ The sp’nes oifj the ordinary barberry point upwards or are horizontally placed. On the Waikato plant they Point downwards at~7n sharp' angle. gnd,-without exception. This alone serves to distinguish tl e plant from the- other form. Another difference is the great freedom with which the Waikato, plant .produces suckers, which causes, the formation of an impenetrable hedge. One of the forms of Berberis vulgaris bears long sprays of red berries resembling bunches of coral. The spines on this form point , downwards, but, though the Waikato plant beans red fruit (I myself did not see fruit);.. I cannot think it. is the same, because.my experience of the first-mentioned form is that it.hears fruit very freely, the sprays being used in floral decorations. The fruit of all forms of Berberis vulgaris is used in confections, as well as being pickled while green.

Mr Edward Bowler informed me that the first known plant of the Waikato barberry was many years ago growing at Ohaupo.'.Sir George Grey indu'ced a German family named Karl to settle there. One of, (these sav the plant, and, being impressed with it, obtained cuttings and from this plant all the Waikato hedges have originated.. The Bowler brothers commenced planting .at Te Aroha. , Removing to their present locality upwards of twenty years ago ,they soon began planting heldges of the barberry around and about their property. Including the Te Aroha plantings, tljey have established from twenty-five' co thirty miles of hedges of this plant. Judging from - the hedges' see,n on these lands I consider it the best formers’, hedge I have observed anywhere, being easily established and requiring no trimming. OFFER OF CUTTINGS.

The plant can be got by cuttings only. These the Bowler brothers generously offer to give in practically any number, to any one who. will take the trouble to go and get them. I suggest that it would be worth while for .some of! the larger landowners in various districts to communicate with Messrs Bowler Bros., and arrange to send in June or July for cuttings for trial.'