76 The Landscape Gardening Book 



ten to twenty feet in width, it is better to limit the varieties to 

 three or four, rather than risk the jumbled and crowded effect 

 which is so likely to result from the use of too many. Trees may 

 accent a point here and there, but they are not absolutely neces- 

 sary, for with four kinds of shrubs, properly selected, a suffi- 

 ciently varied skyline is assured without them. 



A botmdary which seems to be completely forgotten nowadays 

 is the old plashed hedgerow— a style which came from England 

 in the early days of the Colonies. For uncleared land it is sim- 

 plicity itself, and it is by no means impracticable on smooth 

 and treeless wastes, though on the latter it requires planting and 

 consequently a little more time for results, of course. 



On uncleared land a row of saplings are simply left along the 

 boimdary line— saplings of whatever may constitute the growth 

 cleared away. These are then bent down along the ground as 

 close as may be and tied, each to its neighbor, to hold them in 

 place. All the branches on either side of the line of the boundary 

 are taken off close at the boles, leaving only those on what is now 

 the top and the tinder side of the saplings, to grow. And these 

 are "plashed" — that is they are woven, in and out and about 

 their neighbors, until a network is well begun which each suc- 

 ceeding year's growth will make more dense and impenetrable. 



Enough trimming back must be done each year of course, to 

 keep the line even and straight. Climbing and prostrate grow- 

 ing vines or shrubs, set here and there along the hedgerow, soon 

 make themselves at home and help in the boundary building. 

 And wild growths will spring up of themselves, in short order. 



Such a boimdary is not suitable for ^•ery close quarters, 

 naturally, but for larger places, where natural lines may prevail 

 to a great extent, it is much to be regretted that it is not more 

 often used. A planting may very easily be made for it where 



