reading portion of the farmers of the present day have any idea of - at page 118, is a communication signed " Wm. W. Anderson, Statesburg, S. C. June 16, 1820," from which we quote in support of the same opinion: "This is a native plant, and has been generally called in South Carolina, nondescript. It is now more properly known by the name of Cherokee Rose, on account of its being found in the greatest abundance in the tract of country inhabited by the Cherokee Indians." We have no facts of our own to offer- but think the above views so clear and positive, that they may safely be advanced in support of the hope that the Cherokee Rose may prove to be indigenous to the South, and not an exotic.

The Rosa lavigata is an evergreen, approaching to a vine in its habit of growth; the leaves are dark green and beautifully glossy, or shining- hence its specific name. Its long and strong shoots are completely covered with stout and very sharp prickles, curved backwards. The wood soon acquires a hardness which prevents its being browsed upon by any kind of stock-though, during a hard winter, cattle and sheep will pick off the leaves, without injury to the plant. The blossoms, which appear very early in the spring, in vast numbers, are large, single, and of a peculiarly clear and pure white. The flexibility of the long shoots allows of their being laid up into any form or position that may be desired; and as they readily take root when layered, weak places in a hedge are quickly and permanently strengthened: and though inclined, it neglected, to run wild, it bears the knife and shears well, and can readily be reduced again to order whenever desired. We have seen hedges of it occupying a space of twenty feet, and from fifteen to eighteen feet high-picturesque objects in the landscape, but bad marks of neat farming.

We would commend this plant for hedging for the following reasons: for beauty, strength, permanency, facility of propagation and culture, freedom from disease and from injury by stock or insects, peculiar adaptation to our climate and wants, and to farms cultivated by negroes, the rapidity with which it forms a perfect and substantial fence, the exemption of such fences from destruction by accidental fires, and the facilities it offers the planter of forming permanent enclosures without exhausting his supply of timber.

ITS BEAUTY.-This may not, by many, be considered an object of very great importance in a hedging plant, still it has its claims to notice and its advantages. As these are self-evident to those with whom arguments in their favor would have any weight, we shall not offer them, but pass on to the mere utilitarian advantages. The plant is, beyond question, a very beautiful one, especially when in bloom, when it forms one mass of snow-white wreaths, relieved by the rich, dark green of the leaves; and hedges of it may be still further improved, as a means of enriching and enlivening the landscape, by introducing plants of the stronger, freer-growing of the Noisettes and of the various running roses, at the distances of thirty or forty feet in the hedge.

For strength, a well kept Cherokee hedge, of strong growth far surpasses any

other kind of live fence; and it is a more efficient protection to crops and stock than any other fence known to us. Unlike other hedges, where the stoutness of the stems of those plants of which they are formed, is the main source of strength to the hedge, this one is so bound together by the interlocking of the long shoots, which have been laid down lengthwise of the hedge, at different periods of its growth, as to be utterly impervious to any animal. We have seen a knowing old bull, lowering his head, and closing his eyes to the consequences, force his way through the most compact hawthorn hedges of England; but we feel confident that a well-grown hedge of this rose would turn the Buffalo. In a field thus fenced, sheep are perfectly safe from dogs or wolves, unless these enter at the gate; and hogs may be raised even close by such a neighbor as we were at one time favored with, who cursed his negroes for "a set of worthless, sleepy-headed rascals, who could not pick up pork enough o'night, in such a neighborhood, without compelling him to buy it!" The negroes, belonging to a plantation thus enclosed, find it difficult to ramble much, as they cannot cross these hedges without considerable labor and some risk.

FERMANENCY.-We find that plants and hedges now exist in full vigor and thriftiness, of from twenty to fifty years growth, in various parts of South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. No instance has come under our notice, during very extended enquiries and not a little personal observation, of any appearance of a want of permanency, or of the plant dying out from any cause. Unsightly gaps and defective places are by no means rare in even a majority of Cherokee hedges; but these are ascribable solely to neglect and indifference. One half the labor and care bestowed upon an equal number of cotton plants, would keep the young hedge in such a vigorous, growing condition as entirely to prevent gaps. In facility of propagation and after culture, the Cherokee Rose equals corn or cotton. But of this, anon.

Of its freedom from disease and from injury by stock or insects, we can speak positively thus far. We may expect, however, that as the plant itself is multiplied, its insect enemies will also inevitably increase - not by spontaneous generation, however, but by a natural increase from a natural cause.

No degree of cold experienced in South Carolina or Mississippi affects this plant injuriously. The winter of 1834-'5 was a remarkably severe one and particularly destructive to vegetable life. We find it stated, in a very interesting retrospect of that season, as experienced at Charleston, in the 8th vol. of So. Agriculturist, that during "the end of the year 1834, the temperature was moderate and uniform," which "by rousing the vegetable world from its torpor, prepared the way for that devastation and havoc, which spread far and wide." This continued with no very important change. At nine o'clock, on the night of 6th February, 1835, the thermometer stood at forty-eight degrees. At a more advanced period of the night a very severe change took place, producing showers of sleet which fell at short intervals, "The succeeding day the weather moder

ated, and although cool, the influence of a bright sun rendered the temperature agreeable until towards evening, when old Boreas sent forth a chilling blast from the North-east, approaching to a pretty severe gale, diminished the temperature down to twenty degrees, at nine o'clock, P. M. This was succeeded by Sunday, the eighth." It was the coldest day ever experienced in South Carolina, so far as recorded. "The thermometer stood, after sunrise, five degrees above Zero, leaving scarcely any doubt that it must have been at Zero previous to daylight. The salt-water in the docks and mill-ponds in the neighborhood of the city, was frozen." Green-houses afforded no protection to exotics. Fig trees, myrtles, oranges, etc., etc., as far South as St. Augustine, were cut down to the roots and many utterly destroyed. We presume it was at this time that M. Noisette, whose residence and nursery near Charleston had long been celebrated for their beauty, lost his magnificent collection of Camellias, the growth of many years-planted and nursed by his own hand- and unequalled in size and splendor. The old gentleman, in the morning, gazed upon them, all blasted and killed to the ground; and, it is said, re-entered his house without uttering a word, took to his bed and in a few days, died!

The Cherokee Rose was not affected by this sudden and severe change. It will even thrive as far north as Maryland. The late Mr. C. E. Rowand, of South Carolina, aiming at a great public good, actually distributed some hundreds of parcels of cuttings of this plant, about the year 1820 to '23 to an equal number of his fellow farmers in the Southern States; at the same time publishing in the American Farmer directions for its cultivation, etc.; and requesting, as a very moderate return for so much trouble and expense, that the recipients would report their success or failure, through that journal. Some half dozen did so! Poor encouragement to others to follow the liberal example of Mr. Rowand. Through those who did report-Am. Farm., vo. 7—we learn that Mr. Wm. H. Tilghman, Plinlimman, Talbot county, and Edward Stabler, Jr., Harewood, Montgomery county, succeeded in growing the plants; of their success we have no knowledge, after the first three years. We are thus particular, to satisfy enquiries that have been made of us from Pennsylvania and Virginia, and we would be glad to learn if the rose still flourishes at these places.

We have much to say upon its adaptation for hedging purposes, to the climate and wants of the South, and to farms cultivated by negroes. Fences we must have. Timber is becoming scarce everywhere; and many districts are so completely exhausted as to be, measureably, abandoned from an actual want of fencing material; the lands being too much worn, under the same wasteful course which destroyed the timber, to repay any outlay for enclosing. Timber, exposed to the weather, decays very rapidly in our climate; so that fences of that material require very frequent repairs and do not last long. The tax upon the labor of a plantation is enormous, even when well timbered; and still more, of course, where much hauling is requisite. Many of the finest plantations on the lower Missis

sippi have no fencing timber, and cypress pickets have to be purchased for that purpose. Great part of Texas consists of prairie, on which the plant will grow most vigorously, forming an impassable fence in a very few years; and, with the China tree, (melia azedarach,) from its hardness, rapidity of growth and excellence for fuel and other economic purposes, will be the means, we confidently predict, of settling up millions of acres of that fine country, which would, without these, remain forever uncultivated, though by no means barren, wastes. Add to these the Pise, or dry clay house, and all the objections to a settlement in that magnificent stock country are done away with. Give Illinois such a plant for hedging, and a tree equal in value, rapid growth and easy cultivation, and she would quickly become the first agricultural State of the Union. As it is, notwithstanding the rigors of her climate and great dearth of timber, she makes lengthy strides towards the first rank.

The advantages of a proper subdivision of plantations by permanent enclosures, are sufficiently apparent. They are the very foundation of all improvement. The many fine tracks of hill-land, in these Southern States, which have had the cream skimmed from them, in repeated crops of cotton and corn, without other rotation and without manure, and have become cut up by gullies and stripped of their timber, might yet be reclaimed for other and highly profitable kinds of farming, by being promptly hedged in before it is too late. They might then, should the owners find it advisable to move their forces on to newer and richer lands, be turned into sheep farms or disposed of to advantage for that purpose. Without fences or fencing materials they are worthless.

Of the rapidity with which a perfect and substantial fence can be formed of. this rose, we will only remark, that if properly planted, and tended with a reasonable degree of care, in four years a protecting fence may be dispensed with; and six years growth will render it proof against the most breachy stock.

Having thus enumerated the most prominent and valuable qualities of this plant for hedging purposes, we proceed to name the only objections, we are aware of, to its employment in that way, to any extent.

The great space occupied by an unpruned Cherokee hedge, is the principal objection made to it. But for this the plant should not be blamed. If planted, as it always should be, in a straight line, and not following the zig-zag of the rail fence, it can readily be kept within a reasonable limit, say with a base of from three to five feet. And the labor requisite to keep it thus within proper bounds, is not greater than is needed to keep up a rail fence; with this very great advantage, that the trimming may be done at any season of the year when the planter is most at leisure; and even if neglected for years, the only evil arising will be the temporary loss of ground occupied by the encroachment. The harbor afforded to vermin, snakes, rats, rabbits, birds, etc., is, in fact, a serious objection. The difficulty can be greatly lessened by trimming and keeping clean; and still more by providing for the negroes a few small, wire-haired terriers, in place of

the great, worthless, sheep-killing, food-consuming curs, most of them are now permitted to have about their houses.

We have an anxious doubt to express, at this part of our subject, and which we name with much hesitation and after long and serious thought. It is, that the Cherokee hedge will and does afford protection to the cotton moth, either in its image or crysalis form, in one and most probably both of which it most certainly hybernates. We throw out this suggestion, as remarked, hesitatingly; as it may prove that we are altogether mistaken; and, in the meantime, many may be, thereby, deterred from doing that which has been already too long postponed. It will not prevent our planting some miles of hedge, this winter.

The mode of planting most commonly pursued, has been to make holes with a spade or other implement, under the rail fence, following the worm, and inserting cuttings quite close together, say every three or six inches. By this method the most of the cuttings take root and grow, being kept cool and moist by the lower rail of the fence. Others, also following the worm of the fence, plant a short distance from it, putting the cuttings in with a grubbing-hoe. Any plan of hedging which occupies, at the very start, a space of five feet in width, is objectiona ble. Still more so is the crowding together so many cuttings, by which the plants are weakened at the first, and never afterwards acquire strength, even if tended, to form a substantial fence. The impossibility of tending the young hedge during the three first years of its growth, so as to give it complete possession of the ground, to the exclusion of briars, vines of various kinds, cane, China trees, etc., by which so many of those now growing are disfigured and injured, is even a more serious objection to its being crowded into the fence corners.

In order to have a strong and regular hedge, it is indispensable to have healthy, vigorous plants. These cannot be produced without cultivation and space to each plant. With the Cherokee Rose this is especially the case, as stout and vigorous shoots are needed from the first, that the base of the hedge may be composed of such. If consisting of shoots, the delicate growth of crowded plants, these are quickly choked out by those stronger shoots, which those plants that ultimately take the lead throw out, leaving the bottom and middle of the hedge a mass of dead spray.

The method of forming hedges of the Cherokee Rose, which we recommend as the true one, suggested by theory, thoroughly tested in practice, and now offered as the result of experience, is this: Upon a hill-plantation, already under fence, remove the fence; grub out every bush, briar, cane, etc., and cut down the large trees that will in any way shade or affect the hedge-row; upon the poorer portions apply a dressing of any manure that may be at hand; break up the ground with a good two horse plow, bedding it, to the width of twenty feet, or as wide as practicable; run a heavy harrow two or three times along the bed thus formed, and it is ready for re-setting the fence-which do to one side, so as to allow of the young hedge being tended with plow and cultivator. If the hedge-row em