394 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



often be cut down -witli advantage to within a few inches of the ground, and 

 the latter cut close on all sides to the single stems. In a few years new 

 and fresh wood will till up ail vacant spaces, provided the soil is enriched 

 and kept free from weeds. Nothing is more beautiful than the quickset 

 or hawthorn hedge when kept up properly ; and among other things the 

 railways did for us, they taught us practically that the hawthorn required to 

 be controlled and cultivated like other plants, in order to perform its office in 

 civilized life as distinguished from its wild state. All these hedge plants do well 

 in a stiffish loamy soil, and if such is not the natural soil in which they are- 

 to be planted, they will repay the trifling expense incurred in making it. In 

 making a new hedge, whether of hawthorn, privet, or holly, the plants are 

 taken from the nursery when well rooted and about a foot high. The bed is 

 prepared for them by raising a bank more or less high according to circum« 

 stances, digging the centre about a foot broad, and in the middle of this plant 

 the young shrubs. The banks may be turfed, or grass seeds sown on them, 

 but the summit of the ridge on which the hedge is planted requires to- 

 be stirred occasionally, and kept perfectly clear from weeds. The young 

 hedge, if properly planted, requires little further care except watering if 

 dry weather follow the planting, stirring the earth from time to time and 

 careful weeding : here, as in other branches of cultivation, the soil cannot 

 feed two masters. There are several species of the beautiful Crataegus suit- 

 able for hedges, and a mixed hedge of the white and pink May, or Glaston- 

 bury thorn, would be a beautiful object in any garden and an excellent fence 

 between fruit and kitchen or flower-garden. Meanwhile, if a screen be needed 

 in the garden, it may easily be managed, and with a very good effect, by means 

 of hollyhocks and chrysanthemums. Hedges of either of these flowers will 

 serve to shut out from view anything that may be required, and at the same 

 time produce a beautiful effect. Hollyhocks can be staked separately in the 

 line where they are wanted ; but with chrysanthemums the best plan is to 

 stretch a rough wire-fence to which they may be trained. This may be made 

 of a few rough stakes supporting three or four rows of wire, over which 

 on both sides the plants may bo trained after the fashion of espaliers, so as to 

 cover all the framework. Many other plants also there are which will suggest 

 themselves to every gardener as capable of forming a pleasing and effective 

 temporary hedge, 



§ 6. — Flower-Borders, 



1150. In old gardens the flower-border was an important object, nor is it 

 sui^erseded even now by the more modern bedding-out, massing, and clumping 

 system. It is the natural abode of the Pink, Carnation, Stock, Gillyflower, the 

 Wallflower, Hyacinths, Roses, and Heliotropes, with many other gema 

 ■whose fragrance loads the atmosphere, while their beauty charms the eye ; 

 of the Tulip and Pzeonies, crimson, rose-colour, and pink, whose brilliant 

 colours fill the eye. Such mixed borders, when kept highly dressed and 



