260 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[September, 



noticeable fact that there is not a froward house 

 in the vilhige group, and even the most preten- 

 tious are models of modesty. 



The irregular arrangement or distribution of 

 these houses is excellent, and the removal of 

 everything that would obstruct the sea-view of 

 those which necessarily stand some distance 

 back from the line of bjuff, if not the result of 

 unselfishness, is nevertheless a feature other 

 similar places might copy to their credit and 

 profit. The lack of trees, and all other impedi- 

 menta, with the continuous green, well-kept 

 level lawn, give to the place its remarkably free, 

 cool and agreeable aspect. Thru the prevailing 

 depressed hedge is a capital idea. Whether it is 

 low by intention, or because it has not yet had 

 time to grow to the usual height, I do not know. 

 It is, at least, a happy hit, and fits in well with 

 the other features of the place. 

 • To speak more particularly of the hedge — or 

 of hedges generally — is my occasion for writing 

 this. I can see no reason why they should all, 

 and always, be of one invariable height. 



There are reasons, however, why in some 

 cases, they should be kept low, and the sea- 

 side village under consideration presents an in- 

 stance where this exceptional treatment can be 

 carried out with advantage to all concerned. 



The full value of a high hedge could be nearly 

 realized by laying the same hedge down, as it were, 

 upon its side ; in other words, giving it greater 

 breadth to replace its lack of height. A line of 

 low, widely-trimmed Osage or Hawthorn, six or 

 seven feet broad, would be nearly, if not quite, 

 as eflectual a bar to the passage of man and the 

 animals, as would one clipped four or five feet 

 above the ground level. Over this breadth of 

 six or seven feet the plants could be set in four 

 or more lines or rows, and could be of one spe- 

 cies only, and thorn-bearing, or of two or more, 

 the outer of which would be of impervious 

 shrubs, the inner of one or more contrasting 

 species, but thornless. 



A variation upon this would be to give the 

 major portion of the hedge's thickness to resisting 

 plants, whilst the inner margin, seen from the 

 windows of the house, would be composed of 

 herbaceous sorts, with ornamental leafage, which 

 would be especially striking when set against 

 the deep green low-clipped shrubbery. 



As a further deterrent, in special cases, to 

 reckless two or four-footed pedestrians, a line of 

 posts could be set midway of the hedge's width, 

 the said posts to be connected by iron rods or 



chains, and poets and shains to be painted to 

 harmonize with the leafage below. 



The gate, if necessary, would be two-barred 

 and hung low, or if absent, the gate posts, set 

 widely asunder, and rising but a foot above the 

 depressed hedge, would be encircled by the 

 latter. These would have as a surmounting ob- 

 ject, a vase, to be flower-filled or ivy-entwined, or 

 balls, either of which would suit a variety of 

 situations. 



HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS FOR GEN- 

 ERAL CULTIVATION. 



BY WM. eUTHERLAND, PHILADELPHIA. 



The present system of bedding out with tender 

 plants, has been in vogue for about thirty years 

 and has so nearly superseded the valuable class 

 of hardy herbaceous plants that they are almost 

 unknown to the general cultivator, excepting, 

 perhaps, the old-fashioned Phlox, Single Holly- 

 hocks and Paeonies and a few other flowers and 

 herbs which were grown in the gardens of our 

 grandmothers. 



Very many intelligent people are becoming 

 tired of the set figures, glare and sameness ol 

 the beds that are so universally used for sum- 

 mer decoration, and are anxiously looking about 

 for something to take their place in a measure. 



We would not wish to do without bedding-out 

 plants entirely, for they are very striking and 

 beautiful in certain positions, but that they 

 shonld entirely supersede prettier and more in- 

 teresting flowers is not desirable. 



The tender bedding-out plants have to be re- 

 newed every year at a considerable expense and 

 require very careful attention for success. They 

 only furnish flowers from about the middle to 

 the last of June until the first frosts, a season 

 when people are taking their summer vacations; 

 the beds for the remainder of the year are bare 

 earth or a mass of decaying vegetation. 



The hardy herbaceous plants cost but little 

 more at first, require very little attention for 

 success and they live and increase year after 

 year. With a dozen different kinds, flowers can 

 be had from April until very severe frosts; with 

 a larger number, every color, and a great variety 

 in form and fragrance will be represented. 

 Many of them are evergreen and would look 

 finely as single plants, or in beds all the year. 



Hardy plants are usually arranged in borders 

 with the large growing varieties at the back and 

 a gradation in size to the small ones on the edge, 

 but we need not be confined to this arrange- 



