Formation of a Vegetable Garden 



way until new roots are thrown out and the older ones 

 induced to perform their proper functions. Plant in a 

 straight line at about six inches apart, taking care not to 

 crumple the roots, and make the soil firm. This is 

 essential. About six months after the time of planting, 

 the hedge, as we will even now venture to call it, should 

 be cut back to within six inches from the soil. This may 

 appear to some to be a species of backward progress, but 

 we must recognise that the chief essential of a hedge in 

 this case is impenetrability, and this can only be gained 

 by encouraging a strong, vigorous, and multiplied growth 

 from the bottom. The many hedges we see by our country 

 roadsides are a sad evidence of this impatience to procure 

 quickly a large high hedge at the expense of a sparse 

 bottom. Give a thorough foundation in the beginning, 

 and you then have something to build upon. During 

 the second year the hedge should be cut back to one 

 foot, and from that time onward it should be allowed to 

 grow and retain about one foot each year. For forming 

 a clean, shapely hedge there is no method of cutting it 

 better than that of clipping with the shears. It may take 

 longer, but the work is much neater ; and for a hedge in 

 the position we are discussing it is necessary to preserve 

 a neat appearance. The trimmings from the hedge, no 

 matter what its composition, should be burnt, and the 

 ashes resulting carefully stored away for use in the vege- 

 table garden. Any attempt at making topnots and what- 

 nots in the way of topiary work is. to be discouraged, for 

 it is a barbarous and hideous custom, besides being a 

 great waste of much valuable time, which could be better 

 applied to the production of vegetables and flowers. It 

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