The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-04
California Privet Hedges.

Throughout the city-and the
whole of the State, for that matter
there is general complaint that the
California privet hedges we're killed
by the severe winter. That this shrub
is really too tender for Indiana plant
ing has been said repeatedly in the
indianapolis News. Long acquaint-
ance with it by those who are thor
oughly familiar with its demands has
proved conclusively that the plant
"winter-kills," so far as the tops are
concerned, even if the roots survive
our colder temperatures.
The California privet gained its
popularity primarily because it is the
main shrub used for hedge purposes
at Newport and other summer resorts
similarly situated. For seaside plant
ing, no shrub surpasses it, but it must
be remembered that the water tenn
pers the atmosphere and that many
shrubs will succeed splendidly at
Newport that will not survive our
winters here. In Indianapolis and
Indiana, California privet should
never be planted.
The Amoor River privet resembles
the California variety very much and
is perfectly hardy. Some notes on
the subject of hedge plants adapted
to Indiana follow. They are from
the pen of E. Y. Teas, a well-known
nurseryman of Centerville, Ind.
The Amoor River privet, from Asia,
resembles California privet very
much and has never been known to
be injured by our severest cold, even
in the tips Of the branches, where the
California was killed to the ground.
The Amoor River is not quite so near
ly evergreen as California, though it
retains its foliage until mid-winter.
There is a Southern form, grown and
sold as Amoor River that, it is be.
lieved, does not possess the hardness
of plant mol beauty Of foliage that is
characteristic Of the genuine Amoor
River.
Regelianum privet ceems to pos
sess the hardness of the Amoor
River, and, in habit of growth. ar
rangement of the branches, and pc.
culiar shape and conformation of t. '
foliage is one of the most striking OF
shrubs. The japanese privet is a
strong grower, with remarkably
large, glossy foliage, that is more per-
sistently evergreen than any other
privet. We think this will become
popular either as a hedge plant or
for ornamental planting.
The Japan berberis (B. Thunber-
gii) is justly very popular as an or
namental hedge plant. 1t is of rather
slender, compact, busfy habit, with
small, glossy, bright green leaves
that attain a brilliant crimson color
in autumn. The plant is loaded with
berries that assume a bright red color
when ripe and remain on the plant
through the winter. We have never
heard of this plant being injured by
the cold anywhere. Last, but not
least, for ornamental hedge, we Will
name Spiraea Van Houttei, a plant
of extraordinary hardness, and BEAU
ty in habit of growth, as we'll as OF
| special beauty when loaded with It's
wreaths of white flowers, as easily
| transplanted as a tomato, as hardy
as an oak. We have hedges OF 1t
twenty years old, of perfect FORM
] from the ground up which, when IN
| bloom in June. are s%trikingly beautl-
full. BY cutting back, just after the
| towering season, the hedge may be
keur at a height of two, three Or four
feet, as may be desired.