the lloinlock stands aiiionp: the first iu beauty, but like all the most beautiful thiiif;s 

 in tliis beautiful world, it is among the most expensive and tedious to proeure. 

 (Irowint; it from seeds is perfectly practicable, but nuraerymen have not yet turned 

 their attention much to its culture. In neighborhoods where it is indigenous, the 

 pnietice is to proeure from its native spots one and two year old seedlings, taking 

 great care to bring as much of the leaf-mould and earth with them as is possible, and 

 never to allow the exposed roots, if there should be such, to become dry. Plant 

 (^not too deep) at once, either in double or single rows; the latter is sufficient; shade, 

 and mulch with stones, and in three or four years, with occasional trimming iu 

 June and August, you will begin to be rewarded by the most exquisite tints of any 

 thing grown for this purpose. Great care must be exercised, as in all hedges, to 

 give the proper tapering form to the mass. AVe can show iu this neighborhood 

 specimens of the Hemlock hedge that will defy criticism; unfortunately it is not 

 a defence from cattle. 



The Juniper (Juniper is communis') treated as a hedge plant is highly ornamen- 

 tal, almost equal to the above, but it is more transient and is apt to get too thick, 

 and without much care to die out in places ; this the Hemlock rarely does. The 

 Juniper too is only adapted to the Middle States. As a single coned shrub, well 

 eared for, opened every year, and cleaned of its fallen leaves which collect in its 

 centre, it deserves a place in every garden. 



The Yews. — The English and Irish Yews would undoubtedly make fine hedges 

 in our climate. Mr. Reid has commenced his experiments with these, and sees no 

 reason why they should not succeed as well here as in Europe ; in very severe 

 winters they become a little brown, but when placed in hedges they will stand the 

 severity of winter better than as single plants. These like the Juniper would be 

 only for ornament. 



The Norway Spruce (Ahies excelsa) makes a rapid hedge row, and where 

 shelter from winds is required, we know of no plant better suited for that purpose, 

 especially in northern latitudes. It will take much space if allowed to attain its 

 full beauty and height ; if a low screen be wanted, the leader may be annually 

 stopped, and the side branches trimmed back the entire last year's growth ; this 

 makes a heavy, thick, blackish-green fence of great importance where high winds 

 are offensive or injurious. 



The Deodora will probably make a handsome hedge plant, but has not yet been 

 sufficiently long in use, and is still too expensive. 



Red and White Cedar. — These look well for a time, but in a few years drop 

 their lower leaves and become unsightly. 



We now come to our own favorite, and to our proposed 



PREMIUM. 



The Holly (Ilex opaca). — Among the neglected evergreens of our country, the 

 American Holly stands conspicuous, both for its beauty at all seasons, its patience 

 of the shears, and the red berry, valuable as it is for the eye, and acceptable to the 

 winter birds. It is somewhat difficult to propagate from seed, at least to the unin- 

 itiated, but a little observation of its habit would overcome this. From two bushels 



