Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-09
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Looking at some photographs of the
English countryside the other day, We
were more convinced than ever of the
desilsbility of hedges.
The hawthorn, the hemlock, these
and other hedging materials have been
neglected in the United States, but in
many sections of our country will
thrive as readily as in England
We have California privet and Japa-
nese barberry as two tremendously re-
liable hedging materials.
Between the two there is no choice
as far as many tastes are concerned.
The privet forms a denser hedge, and
for that reason far surpasses the bar
berry, think some enthusiasts.
Privet grows well either trimmed or
untrimmed. While the cropped hedge
is preferred, there are many examples
of free-growing privet to be seen in and
around Washington.
This double ability of the California
privet, to make either low or high
hedge, constitutes one Of its best char
acteristics.
There are many situations where the
formal clipped hedge is not SO de-
sirable. Take the side of house, on
the average 50-foot lot.
If there is porch piazza, portico, or
whatever one chooses TO call it. the
space left between two adjoining houses
is not very large.
The customary close foundation
planting offers little protection from
the stares Of neighbors. Neighbors are
not supposed to stare, Of course, but
sometimes they do.
In that event, a nice, high-growing
hedge of privet is the best thing sensi-
tive person can establish. 1t is good
looking, remains green almost all Of the
year and surely offers protection.
X X X
We are always glad when We see some
one putting In hedge. If the kids viii
just let it grow. 1t will be all right. a
hedge is the modern equivalent of the
iron fence of yesterday. Solid fencing
has its place. along with iron dogs, deer
and horse blocks.
Solid fences still have place bshind
house, or as a support to a growing
hedge, but the average home owner OF
today feels that hedge looks better al
the front Of his property. There are
styles in fencing as In everything else
Today the hedge has the drop on the
iron fence, even the time-honored white
picket fence. There are, around the
washington suburbs, many extremely
interesting and beautiful examples OF
the use of these fencing materials.
Often wire fences, sunk in concrete
beautify a property, especially when
covered with vines, particularly the
rose
1t is difficult to understand the view
point of the person who does not want
boundary mark of some sort around
his property.
Perhaps there will be no boundary
marks in Heaven. One of the best OF
the recent books carries on at great
length against the setting up of barriers
in this world. Such a viewpoint is
plausible.
But surely one is not attempting to
be either selfish, harsh or dictatorial
when he attempts to establish a bound
airy marking his own little property
from the properties of others.
He knows. as well as any, that all
earthly holdings are for a time only
but he feels strongly that during that
small time in which mortal laws allow
the land to be called his he should have
some right TO bit of peace and privacy
And nothing but tangible barrier OF
some description will give 1t to him in
this curious world of tangible trespass-
ing.
The fence also has a philosophic de-
tense. The mind requires its defense,
too. The satisfying sense of ownership
is made the more by a tangible barrier
which keeps out those whom 1t will
keep out.