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[bobf <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>]

Van Dell, maybe the word you are looking for is 'Espalier'.  I don't know how 
it would work with hedges as fences.  The one thing about the osage ornage is 
the spiners.  I doubt many anuimals and probably no liovestock could get 
through.  I've seen very thick and tall hedge fences of everything from 
Azaleas to oleanders , but I would suppose some animals could eventually eat 
through those, osgage orange is not pleanant to encounter , even a couple of 
bushes at the time. I have an old book somewhere, where espalier techniques 
are used to make shrubbery look like 'things' (animals, etc.)

Someone else will probably have an answer before my post pops up.  I'm 
notic9ing from an hour to several hours  lag between when I post and when it 
appears on the list.  I would like to learn more about natural fencing if you 
learn of a good site or other reference.

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--- On Sat, 2/21/09, VAN DELL JORDAN <vdjor AT yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: VAN DELL JORDAN <vdjor AT yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Homestead] [Homestead=trees/fencing
> To: bobford79 AT yahoo.com
> Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009, 9:27 AM
> There were a number of "hedge" fences in the
> neighborhood I grew up in.  This case hedge was our word for
> Osage Orange.  I expect these were planted for windbreak as
> much as fence.  All gone now! Idustrial agriculture theory
> is that the trees take too much nutrients that could be
> supporting profitable soybeans.
> I think that is the permanent fence, but it takes a while
> to grew enough to become effective and if you decide to
> reconfigure your fields it is not movable.  Likewise with
> stone fences.
> We have casually researched the English practice of making
> hedge fences using the technique called pleiding(sp?) I must
> look that up again.  Anyone know anything about that?
> Van Dell
> 
> 
> --- On Sat, 2/21/09, bobf <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > Thanks for your comments in both posts regarding this
> > subject.  I still like the idea of 'natural'
> > impemnetrable fences (prichly osage orange, as an
> example);
> > but, if it worked well, farmers would have them all
> over
> > instead of destroying them as pests.
> >