The National tribune., 1882-04-22


HEDGES, concluded For purposes of
protection and shelter to gardens, or as di-
viding lines in the grounds of country and
suburban residences, hedges are of the great
est utility. well-managed evergreen hedge
is found to be as congenial a protection for
the garden as brick wall. The commercial
value Of shelter, in. fastening the maturity
of early crops, is not so generally known as
it deserves to be; yet it is fully appreciated
and adopted by many Of the most successful
cultivators; and rs means Of arrcsting dry
ing winds and lossenng evaporation in level
tracts destitute Of trees, no accurate estimate
can he made of the intrinsic value Of close
foliaged hedges.
Among evergreen trees the Norway spruce
l1Jies erceIsd, is the most valuable where a
high. strong wind-break is desired 1t forms
a close and compact hedge when regularly
trimmed; but TO produce an effective shelter,
in the shortest time, the plants should be set
four TO six feet apart in the row or line, and
allowed Ia crow undisturbed by pruning
until the branches meet: and the only prun-
ING required then viii be fer the purpose OF
emitting the leading shoots to regular
height; any ot the side shoots which may
appear obtrusive should also be shortened,
but no general clipping of the sides will be
needed, and the hedge viii be more beau
tiful than those which are more closely
clipped.
Perhaps the most beautiful and graceful
of all evergreen hedges are those formed Of
the hemlock spruce, -4Gi6s CdnGdenSis. 1t is
not adapted TO southern ckmsttes, and It
grows somewhat slowly at first, but devel-
ops rapidly after it is fairly established.
Nothing can excel the beauty of it's pendant
branches of delicate foliage, and no ether
plant viii admit of shearing into so dense a
wall of sreen. For a dividing line in the
pleasure ground or garden it is most admi-
rally suited.
For general purposes, the arbor-vitaes are
the most available plants for evergreen
hedges North of latitude 327, the Ameri-
can species, 2Rgja occidcntGli$, should be pre-
ferred, but south of that line the Chinese
species, Biota orientaIis, wiz give better sat
isfaction, both in colcr and rapi0ity oi
srowth. Plants Of one foot in height, set
about sixteen inches apart, VIII reach a
height OF five feet in as many years.
There is a great variety Of deciduous
plants which are well adapted for making
ornamental hedges, and for shelter, but
which will not be suitable as fences for
stock. OF these a few may be noted:
The buckthorn, RhamnuS catharticus, al
though plant of slender growth, forms a
very good hedge. 1t has glossy and lively
green foliage, which it retains quite into
winter, thus afording protection for a
heightened period.
The Japan privet, LigustruHa Japonicuns
has 10 superior in climates where the ther-
mometer does not sink many degrees below
zero. 1t is easily prOpagated, Of rapid
growth, and is supplied with abundant foil
age of shining deep-grcen color. Cuttings
may be inserted at once where the hedge is
TO be formed, and they will form roots as
certainly as twig Of willow. 1t is almost
evergreen, even in cold climates, retaining
its foliage even after severe frosts. Fer nine
months of the year it is clothed with the
richest verdure.
The berberry is a much neglected hedge
plant; it is also quite formidable, being well
furnished with repellant thorns. The Japan
ounce, CydOnia JdpOnicG; the evergreen
thorn, CrGtTgus pyracautha, and the Buffalo
berry, Shcpherdia drgcntia, may be mentioned
as plants fitted for ornamental hedges,
The time is fast approaching when no one
will attempt TO raise the finer kinds of early
vegetables, or undertake to grow the finest
small fruits, without preparing for them a
thoroughly protected situation, by surround
ing it with hedge.