66 COMMON SENSE GARDENS 



the other side, and plant it in good black loam, 

 watching it carefully to see that it does not dry 

 out. Edging may be propagated very handily from 

 an old hedge that has been neglected and allowed 

 to go to pieces, being useful for nothing else and 

 only an eyesore. Such a hedge can generally be 

 had for the asking, and of course the plants raised 

 from it would be perfectly hardy and very cheap. 

 Box is a very greedy feeder and should be ferti- 

 lized continually if health and vigour are expected 

 to be shown. A top dressing at least every Fall 

 is necessary, and a mulch of well-rotted manure 

 in the Spring is an excellent thing. Many edgings 

 become starved out, turn yellow and die because 

 they have not sufficient nourishment. That is 

 why so many edgings in old gardens look so patchy, 

 so scarred. The soil is unable to nourish the plants, 

 being used up and not having received any en- 

 richment for many years. If you will water your 

 Box plants with manure water of the colour of 

 strong tea every ten days or two weeks during 

 Summer you will find that they will be much 

 strengthened against the rigours of Winter, in fact 

 that they will not be Winter-killed as many people 



