FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 10 April 1907, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

b !_ A lesson to be learnt at Jloinohaki Government Experimental Station is i lie value of certain plants for hedges ami shelter, in Tarariaki especially,'though ' of good value in general, says tile agricultural editor of the X.Z. Tunes. The Y one plant which lias been regarded a-, a suitable hedge for TaranaUi is the African boxthorn: it grows well and rapidly on light lands and will wilh- ■ stand the periodic nallfc-ladrn winds, which have a blighting effect on plant ' Ife n general. There is one great 1 drawback to African boxthorn. however. The trimmings of hedges burn with difliculty, ami the thorns, which are consequently numerous after a hedge is trimmed, are a source of con - " siderable trouble to the stock-owner. Sheep are affected most. The thorn j is poinsonous in its eli'eet when it enters a sheep's foot, causing small ulcers to form, anil when it gets in the wool it is very objectionable. It has been proved at Momohaki that a plant t which has the advantages of the African boxthorn without its disadvantages ■ is the eleagnus. This is a salt-spray resistant, quickly (onus shelter, and from the interlacing nature of its growth and the incurving nature of its sp nos, ' quickly forms a useful stock fence. The leaves, also, are not appreciably ealen by stock, as they are not palatable. But a better fence than formed l.y the eleagnus alone is one composed of this pflant and the native karo, which is said to be even a better salt-blast resister than the eleagnus. Jt is a big, strongstemmed plant, ami a vigorous grower. As the eleagnus is a clinging plant, the tonibina'tion should give a hedge of great stability. A hedge-plant which is also suitable for Taranaki, but not quite so effective as either of the above, Is the Chatham Island ake akc.