The hedges, used as fences, which we see on a few of the farms, did not
grow here naturally, but were planted by the farmers many years ago. These trees
or bushes formerly came from the land of the Osage Indians, which is now the
state of Kansas. The name of this hedge is the Osage orange tree, because it
came from the Osage Indian land, and of its fruit which looks like the orange,
but are much larger and are green. These fruits are not edible. The fruit of the
hedge is quite solid and also contains a milky white, sticky substance, which
oozes out when the fruit is bruised.
The hedge grows from twenty to
forty feet high and the branches are covered with glossy green leaves under
which lie many long, sharp thorns. The roots of the hedge are a bright orange
and grow according to the branches — if the branches are large the roots are
very large. The sap of this tree is similar to the substance which is in the
fruit.
The farmers spent a great deal of time planting and cultivating
these trees. Many of the farmers kept the hedge cut back to a height of four or
five feet, trimming it every spring or fall, making a very neat fence. But as
the men began to farm more land and it took their time, they could not do this
work. When Illinois became a stock-raising state many of the farmers used wire
fences. When some of the hedge plants failed to grow, the branches of others
were bent down and woven in to close the gaps. Some of the hedge died and
boards, wire or railings were used to close the gaps. Later many of the other
plants died and most of the remaining hedge was pulled out, being replaced by
our modern wire fences. The hedge trees were also pulled, as it hindered
farming, because it was a shade to the growing grain. When the cement roads were
built, the roots of the hedge got in the way when grading. It took tractors or
steam engines to pull these plants or trees out, for the roots were very long
and very strong.
Some of the small branches were trimmed off, leaving
the tall, straight branches, which were cut later and made into fence posts.
These posts were piled up and let stand for about one year until they were dried
out or seasoned. The hedge post lasts many years longer than the common wooden
post. Some of the hedge posts which have been used have been taken up
twenty-five years later and were still in good condition.
Many miles of
hedge in this vicinity have been pulled in the last few years, and at the
present time there are only a few miles of hedge in Freedom township.
Small game, such as rabbits, pheasant and quail, use the hedge as shelter in
severe winter weather, only leaving to get food.
On cold winter weather
I have seen as many as thirty pheasants, several groups of quail and many
rabbits in the hedge which I pass on my way to school.
Extracted 08 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from Stories of Pioneer Days in La Salle County, Illinois, by Grammar Grade Pupils, published in 1932, page 47.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
