The need for a low cost barrier to protect farm woodland and wildlife areas against livestock became apparent early in the history of erosion control plantings by the Soil Conservation Service. Many of these plantings were confined to gullies or other small and irregular areas which could be protected with conventional fence only at exorbitant cost. A living hedge or fence appeared to be the logical answer. Rosa multiflora, commonly referred to as multiflora (many-flowered) rose, has been tested in Missouri and Illinois, and shows considerable merit for such use (P1. 15). Indeed, the prospects of multiflora rose hedge as a general field divider far outweigh its potential as a barrier for woodland and wildlife areas. Since an earlier discussion of the species as a farm hedge (11), additional observations werrant a further report. The natural selection for a living f nce would be osage orange (Maclura pomifera). This tree came into widespread use on the prairie as a farm hedge in the middle of the last century, after countless trials with other species by prairie settlers (1, 7, 8). It was the one species that met with success and was the standard prairie fence until the development of woven and barbed wire. But osage orange, also known as bois d'arc or hedge, is unsatisfactory under modern farming conditions for several reasons. It is difficult to main227