274 TRANSACTIONS OF THE NORTHERN 



FINISH. 



In a garden, as in a lady's toilet, it is surprising what effects can be 

 produced by a few skillful finishing touches. 



We have seen an ordinary tree-shaded yard in a village receive an 

 expression of real beauty, elegance, and refinement, simply from having a 

 small number of large vases of common earthenware, set in appropriate 

 positions, each vase containing, grown in earth, four or five fine foliage 

 plants; each plant contrasting strongly in color with the others, as pur- 

 ple, silver-grey, crimson, and golden. 



Judicious management of hedges of American Arborvitse may be 

 made to work wonders — clipped low and smoothly where simple boun- 

 dary lines are desired — planted closely and grown tall for screens, either 

 to shut out cold winds, or to keep from stables, wood-yards, and such 

 other domestic arrangements as are more useful than beautiful. We 

 have seen an ornament perfect in its kind, and very striking, in the form 

 of an arched entrance through a clipped hedge. It was produced by 

 leaving one or two trees each side of the gateway uncut, and then as 

 they grew tall, training them into a complete arch. The object was so 

 very simple and appropriate, and yet so exceedingly beautiful, that we 

 could not but wonder that everybody who owned an evergreen hedge 

 ■did not manage to have something of the same kind. 



Two ornaments which abounded greatly in antique English gardens, 

 in the days of labyrinths and other quaint devices, we think deserve to 

 be retained in a greater degree of favor than they now enjoy. We al- 

 lude to "Aloes in tubs," and to low evergreen edgings. Of the former, 

 the common " century plant " {Agave Americana) is one of the finest 

 varieties, both on account of its large growth, its heavy, architectural- 

 like leaves, and its fine variegated color. A huge plant of this, stand- 

 ing on the stump of a tree, in some sunny spot, is to our eye a prettier 

 and more suitable garden ornament than a marble statute imported from 

 abroad at great expense. Besides, it costs nothing but the time and pa- 

 tience required for its raising, for you can beg, or buy at trifling cost, 

 young plants anywhere. Vases of foliage plants must, of course, have 

 shade. 



Both these sorts of ornaments belong comparatively near the build- 

 ings. If scattered around the outskirts, they look like stray babes in a 

 wood. 



EVERGREEN EDGINGS. 



We know that in old time the dwarf box was used to such a degree 

 as to grow tiresome. No fear of that here in Northern Illinois. But 

 the low Juniper (savin) is as hardy as can be, and the beautiful heath- 

 leaved Arborvitae ( T/iuJa Ericifolia) which is more dwarf and dainty 

 looking than either Box or Juniper, promises to stand our climate well. 

 We do not admire flower beds hedged in with any sort of wall, but as a 

 boundary line between the green sod of the lawn and the gravel of the 

 walk or drive, nothing can be neater, prettier, or more tasteful every- 



