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Dear All, Sept 24, 2006
Further to my comments of Sept 21 (below) I visited this stand today [by
walking East of Kentville, to examine the bushes near the fence that is
just north of the rail trail]. Cattle have been pastured on the north
side of this fence since at least 1960 but I don't recall ever having
seen horses in this pasture.
Briefly, Hawthorn (_Crataegus_)and Common Buckthorn (_Rhamnus
cathartica_) were browsed about equally, just back to the wire or a
tongue length beyond, and these shrubs were relatively common near the
fence, as compared to abundance at distance from the fence.
In contrast, Alder-leaved Buckthorn (_Rhamnus frangula_) was browsed well
back from the fence, if anything more than Chokecherry (_Prunus
virginiana_) and was relatively infrequent near the fence.
It would appear, unless horses have been pastured here in recent years,
that Alder-leaved Buckthorn is a favourite treat of cattle and therefore
easily kept in check by cattle.
Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville
EXCERPT FROM SEPT 21 POST\\\\\\\\\\\\
If it did come to NS with the Acadians then some factor must have
held it in check until recently, and livestock teeth, the bane of young
woody plants is the obvious suspect. [I just remembered a stand of
Buckthorn that probably extends to a pasture fence. Will check it one of
these days for a possible browse line.]
END OF EXCERPT\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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