FENCES AND HEDGES 203 



first trim it. Beyond the clipping, a Privet hedge 

 takes pretty good care of itself. 



Privet is a very good material for an amateur 

 "topiarius" to practice on. It grows so rapidly 

 that mistakes are quickly covered up, and with a 

 little care it may be shaped into almost any form. 

 Buttresses may be made to hedges, and piers 

 with finials, and the top of the hedge between the 

 columns gracefully turned. Pleaching, however, 

 should be done with a level and a line if you ex- 

 pect to get satisfactory results. This sort of work 

 is very amusing and interesting, and adds to the 

 general effect of the grounds; but a little goes far 

 on a small place. 



Box is an expensive plant to use for hedging pur- 

 poses, but there is nothing so good. The same ef- 

 fect cannot be got with Privet or Hemlock or any 

 other hedge plant. It is not feasible to move an 

 old hedge, as it is almost impossible to fit it to- 

 gether again, although some nurserymen claim to be 

 able to accomplish the feat. Plants of Tree Box 

 can be procured from the nursery fifteen to thirty- 

 six inches in height, and those that have been al- 

 lowed to grow in their natural way should be 



