i66 



IRISH GARDENING 



Ornamental Hedges. 



By J. W. Besant. 



The utility of the ordinary hedge cannot be 

 disputed, and the plants used for tin- purpose 

 are well known. The very purpose of most 

 hedges necessitatis close clipping and a con- 

 sequent stiff and formal appearance. As a rule, 

 hedges of yew. holly and box, to mention ever- 

 greens, are used to form enclosures and shelter 

 belts, as well as for dividing lines and boundaries. 

 Other things, like thorn, hornbeam and beech 

 are of frequent occurrence for the same 

 purposes, and serve admirably for boundary 

 lines. 



It is now being realised, however, that for 

 many positions something less formal may be 

 used without sacrificing utility. Often a screen 

 is wanted where there may not be space for a 

 shrubbery: in such a case an informal hedge 

 which will flower in season would probably meet 

 the case. In other instances it may be necessary 

 to divide the more utilitarian portion of the 

 garden from the more natural part, and in this 

 case the free-growing hedge will have a softei 

 effect than a stiff, closely-clipped one. In the 

 same way it is often necessary to shut off back 

 roads and paths which are used for rough work, 

 such as heavy carting, and are consequently not 

 so well kept as the more prominent drives and 

 paths — here an informal hedge may be made a 

 thing of beauty as viewed from the front of the 

 house or from the pleasure grounds. 



Many and varied are the ways in which tin- 

 informal hedge may be used to soften and enhance 

 the view, and equally varied are the shrubs 

 available lor the purpose. It needs some courage 

 at first to break away from long-established 

 customs, but with the better knowledge and 

 appreciation of the true beauty of plants it will 

 not be long ere formality in hedges will 

 vanish with the rest of the topiary of other 

 days. 



There are nowadays so many beautiful sliruhs 



that our choice is considerable. Perhaps the 

 most popular (lowering shrub of to-day and for 

 many years past is the Pose. Among Roses there 

 are many well adapted for our purpose, but th<\ 

 will he found among the older kinds noted for 

 hardiness, vigour and sweetness, rather than the 

 line form of t heir individual I lowers : the Japanese 

 R. rugosa is an instance hardy, vigorous, con- 

 tinuous "flowering, fruiting freely in autumn, and 

 requiring little pruning. A very effective hedge 

 might be formed of its several varieties. For a 

 low hedge the Scotch Roses would he of great 

 value: their dense growth and free-flowering 

 ha hit give them a value we cannol over-estimate. 



Then there are several among the old China 



Roses which are vigorous enough to form hedges 

 round the Rose-garden or other enclosure; 

 Gloire des Rosomanes, with clusters of crimson 

 flowers produced continuously through the 

 summer, is an instance, while the rose-red Fellen- 

 berg is equally vigorous and attractive. The 

 Penzance Briars, too/are vigorous, free-flowering, 

 and beautiful : these form a fine informal hedge, 

 and succeed with hut little pruning where 

 they can 9 be allowed a lair amount of 

 space. 



Among other shrubs which may he recom- 

 m< nded for informal hedges are the Barberries. 



Not the least among these is the common 

 Barberry, which when left to itself/grows into a 

 dense bush, flowering freely in early summer, but 

 most charming in autumn when loaded with 

 clusters of coral-red fruits. The beai tiful hybrid 

 B. stenophylla. illustrated before now in Irish 

 Gardening, would make a delightful hedge, and, 

 being evergreen, would be good alike in winter 

 and summer. It is one of the most free-flowering 

 shrubs in gardens, and always a source of ad- 

 miration. Darwin's Barberry, too, although 

 inclined to get leggy with age, is a handsome 

 shrub, easil\ kept within hounds by occasional 

 pruning. It is of stiffer habit than the previous 

 kind, hut for some positions this might lie no 

 detriment. The Barberries are a large family. 

 containing species of very various habit and 

 growth. One of the most vigorous is B. Chitria, 

 which will easily form a hedge \2 to 15 feet high. 

 Although not conspicuous as a flowering shrub, 

 this is still a handsome plant, with bronzy-green 

 leaves more or less evergreen. Among the newer 

 Barberries from China are some of great promise 

 both for beds and hedges. B. Prattii, an erect 

 growing shrub, is now clad with innumerable 

 clusters of pale-red fruits immediately noticeable 

 among other kinds. Another upright grower of 

 dense habit is B. Gagnepainii, an evergreen of 

 handsome appearance. The Barberries are a 

 most interesting lot of shrubs, and have 

 great claims on the attention of gardeners on 

 the look out for free - flowering informal 

 hedges. 



Cotoneasters are useful shrubs for all purposes, 

 and there seems no reason why several of the 

 evergreen kinds should not he used for low 

 hedges. Such species as C. huxifolia and C. 

 rotundifolia would form an excellent dark-green 

 background for flower beds and borders : while 

 in their season they flower and fruit freely. 

 Some of the newer species are of vigorous growth, 

 and may yet prove excellent for screens and 

 dividing lines. The fact that some of them spread 

 their branches horizontally as well as vertically 

 will he no barrier where softness of contour is the 

 object desired : such kinds as Dielsiana elegans, 

 salicifolia, and Henryana will he prime favourites 

 when better known, and will surely displace the 

 Cherry and Portugal Laurels, of which too many 

 are used in unsuitable positions. 



In favourable localities the Rscallonias are 

 beautiful shrubs of free informal habit, and lend 

 themselves admirably as hedge plaids. Perhaps 

 the best is E. macrantha, a handsome evergreen 

 with dark-green leaves and clusters of red (lowers, 

 produced through summer and autumn. In a 

 moist . soft climate the Kscalloniast h rive and make 

 huge plants, hut 1 1 1 1 ■ \ dislike cold, harsh winds. 

 \t Glasnevin, which is very exposed, they are 

 frequently a sorry sight for some time in spring 

 till more genial weather induces fresh growth and 

 the old shrivelled leaves drop off or are hidden. 

 In mild localities, however, near the sea and 

 elsewhere, this species makes a glorious shrub, 

 and can be used as a most effective screen. 

 Other kinds, such as rubra, punctata, and t he 

 'allien form known as Inmami. arc all handsome 



shrubs w i 'it h at t ent ion. 



The hardy Fuchsias, too, are among the 



elite of shruhs. and. (lowering as they do 

 right into late autumn, are highly desirable. 

 Perhaps the hardiest and hest for hedge pur- 

 poses is V. Riccartoni, a plant of garden 

 origin hearing small dark-green leaves and 



