MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 39 
hardy than the common privet but they will probably never 
replace the California variety. The latter has much to recom- 
mend it, since it is cheap, grows quickly under adverse soil 
and city conditions, and can stand much abuse. Among the 
hardier privets may be mentioned Ligustrum Ibota and 
Ligustrum amurense, and some hybrid ligustrums. The hy- 
brid known as the ‘‘Ibolium’”’ privet, which is said to be a 
cross between Ligustrum ovalifolium and Ligustrum Ibota, 
proved to be hardy this winter. A hedge plant that is being 
distributed this season recommended to take the place of the 
box (Buus sempervirens) when that admirable plant cannot 
be used, is ‘‘Lodense’’ privet. This is quite dwarf and said 
to be hardy. Another plant which has much to recommend 
it for hedges in place of the common privet is the barberry 
(Berberis Thunbergii). Its thorns are an advantage in that 
they prevent trespassers from injuring the hedge. In the 
fall the leaves turn reddish brown and during the greater 
part of the autumn and winter the brilliant red berries are 
a pleasing sight. With the dust and smoke of the city, how- 
ever, this color soon disappears. Perhaps the only disadvan- 
tage of this hedge is that it is a slow grower and seldom ex- 
ceeds four feet in height. On the other hand, it does not need 
to be pruned as frequently as the California privet, and it is 
really better if the shears are not used except to keep the 
hedge even across the top. 
Inquiries are also received about pruning roses. This is 
the first time in a number of years that the roses were so 
frozen that many of the canes were split to the base. The 
sudden cold caused the sap to freeze and expand, thereby 
splitting the bark. In such cases the canes must be cut off 
at the base. Dead and frozen branches of roses are easily 
recognized by their brown and shriveled appearance. The 
buds are much larger than on the hedge plants and if still 
alive are quite plump. The middle of March is about the 
best time to prune roses, before the buds have broken through 
their coverings, but if the weather remains cold and all plant 
life is quite dormant pruning should be delayed until such 
time as growth commences. Too early pruning sometimes 
means double work, as the plants must: be gone over a second 
time if a severe late freeze kills back the canes. On the other 
