The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-06

When the matter of a defensive hedge
is under consideration. Usage orange hon
ey locust or the new hardy orange is
thought of, and all are good for the pur-
pose. But for the beautifying of the
grounds about a dwelling, or the mark
ing of a boundary, some sort of shrub
berry, such as the berberry, hawthorn,
Pyrus Japonica or japanese privet are
thought of, says Thomas Meehan in Prac-
teal Farmer. OF all known shrubs use
full for this purpose here, none equal the
Japanese privet. Berberry, hawthorn and
Pyrus are useful in their way, but not
one of them approaches the privet in
general usefulness. For all purposes
where it is desirable to plant something
for screen or a boundary hedge the
privet leads anything | know of Among
the chief requisites in a hedge plant are
those of utility, beauty and cheapness.
The priVet possesses all these. 1t grows
very fast, in an upright. partly hedge
like fashion, has no objection to prun-
ing shears, and bears bright green leaves,
which are retained green until hard freez-
ing weather sets in. Where the winters
are not severe, it holds it's leaves through
out the winter, carrying them well into
spring. Even as far north as Philadel-
mas, and then only on account of freez-
ings, and where shelter is gwen it. the
bushes are green until spring. As regards
pruning, it has less objection to being
pruned than any shrub l know Of This
admits of the cutting down of quite large
bushes if they are not thick enough at the
base, and bringing them up afresh, and
this is sometimes done to reform a not
over thick hedge. At one time, though It
was recognized that this was a most ex-
cellent plant for the purpose named it
was feared shat its cost would prohibit
it's general Use.
But this is feared no more Propaga~
tors took hold of ii and tried various
methods of increasing it, and they found
that it rooted easily. 1t mattered not
whether the cuttings were from mature
shoots cut toward spring and planted in
the open ground or whether it was young
growing shoots to be rooted in the green
house. Cuttings become plants in the
easiest kind of way, with the result that
to-day the plants can be had at a rea~
sonable price; and, no doubt in a year or
two the rates will be still lower The
farmers first care is to his crops but he
who pays no attention to fixing up about
the house misses it. There is more profit
20 him in a change of thoughts, such as
this occupation brings about, than there
IS in ploddng at other work the live long
day Should there be a want of a hedge
or OF screen for outbuildings, to shut
them from view from the dwelling house
try this privet. A great many who have
been in Europe and who have seen tho
great variety of broad-leafed evergreens
there, say they wish so badly that some
of them would live out here. For this lat
titude this privet approaches very nearly
what they want. Set out as a single
specimen on a lawn it is a beautiful OBJ
ject Little fixings about the house give
a NJ n1a 10 bo
folks, and they certainly deserve it. Many
farmer who has the means to do it
never would have had il but for the hard
work of his wife and daughters, and az
matter of right the money is as much
theirs as his. 1t will be a good thing to
think over through the coming winter
ana let it be hoped that when spring
comes there will be a fixing up around the
house, and a use of some Of the Japanese
r1t.ivaf