1,30 



EVERGREEN HEDGES- 



men recommend the planting of hedges in 

 double rows, still, for several reasons, I most 

 decidedly prefer to plant only single rows. 



Trimvting. — A good hedge ought never 

 to be trimmed in anyother way than in a co- 

 nical shape; Nature teaches us best, and a 

 very little observation, I think, shows plain- 

 ly that this is the natural way. It may be 

 considered tasteless and absurd, to trim a 

 hedge in a square form, in point of beauty, 

 or, still worse, broad at the top and narrow 

 at the bottom ; but when we reflect that the 

 growth of the bottom of the hedge is 

 checked and stifled by allowing it to be 

 broadest at the top, reasun should teach us 

 to abandon that mode on the ground of un- 

 fitness. 



As soon as planted, stretch a line, and 

 with a hedge shear trim both sides in a con- 

 venient conical form, leaving the top till the 

 hedge almost has attained the desired 

 height. 



A well trimmed hedge in a small garden, 

 four feet high ought never to be broader at 

 the bottom than twelve inches, and should 

 slope to the top in a very acute angle. For 

 each foot higher it may be allowed to grow 

 two or three inches broader at the bottom, 

 and in that proportion at any height. In 

 this way only, every shoot will enjoy the 

 full benefit of air, light and moisture, and 

 by this simple and natural method, you 

 willj in a short time, form a hedge such as 

 I have often seen, as green and close from 

 bottom to top, that even a sparrow could not 

 without difficulty pass through it. 



A hedge, until it has attained the desira- 

 ble size, may be trimmed at least twice in 

 a summer, with a hedge shears ; afterwards 

 it can be much easier, more quickly, and 

 as well done, with a sharp sickle or hook. 

 EoBEUT Nelson. 



Indian Hill, near Xeivburt/port, Aug. M, 1S47. 



[The remarks of our Danish correspon- 

 dent are worthy of attention. The vigor, 

 hardiness and rapid growth of the Norway 

 Spruce appear to us well calculated to ren- 

 der it a capital evergreen hedge plant. 

 Mr. Nelson assures us, that he has seen 

 them shorn into " strong walls of verdure," 

 and we know there are few trees so admi- 

 rably adapted to form thick screens for shel- 

 ter in windy or exposed situations. AYhen 

 of small size, they are very easily trans- 

 planted. The Norway Spruce, though it 

 be found in most of our nurseries, is not 

 yet grown in sufficient abundance to be of- 

 fered cheaply as a hedge plant, being in 

 demand principally as an ornamental tree. 

 But in the English nurseries, such as that 

 of Skirving of Liverpool, Kiveks of Saw- 

 bridgeworth, etc., where it is extensively 

 grown for timber plantations, it may be 

 purchased in any quantity — the plants one 

 to two feet high — for about thirty shillings, 

 (say seven to eight dollars) per thousand. 



Autumn is much the best season for im- 

 porting evergreens, and we recommend 

 some of our leading nurserymen to import 

 a large stock of the Norway Spruce, of 

 small size, grow it one season here, and 

 offer it for hedges at a moderate rate.— Ed.] 



Teees in Grass Ground. — An exchange 

 says, that when trees grow in grass ground, 

 it is well to remove the sod in the fall two 

 or three feet round the tree, and then apply 

 half a wheelbarrow load of manure ; the 

 winter rains and snows will wash the 



strength of the manure to the roots. Scatter 

 the manure under the tree in the spring, 

 and add leached ashes. This will have a 

 tendency to keep down the weeds and 

 grass ; but as when they grow, they will 

 groAv strongly,the spade must be kept in use 



