SHBUBS AND TREES. 11? 



care is required in making hemlock, than arbor-vitae hedges, as 

 they are not so tenacious of Hfe, and require a soil of greater 

 moisture. 



There should be a small reserve of trees kept in one's own 

 garden for the purpose of filling the gaps the next season following 

 the planting. It is desirable to obtain plants not more than one 

 foot high which have been twice transplanted in the nursery. They 

 may be planted from one to two feet apart, according to the size of 

 the hedge intended. The larger the hedge is to be, the greater the 

 distance that may be allowed between the trees. The hemlock 

 loves a cool, as well as moist soil, and does well in partial shade, 

 though if the roots be in cool, moist soil, its greatest luxuriance and 

 beauty is developed in the most sunny exposure ; that is to say, it 

 should have its roots in the shade and the top in the sun. Its own 

 boughs trail naturally on the ground to make such a protection for 

 the roots, and in forcing the tree into a hedge form it should be 

 allowed, and even forced, to inake the greater part of its growth 

 laterally. For some years after planting, the top growth should 

 be continually cut back, and the side branches allowed full license. 

 At the end of three years the hedge should be pyramidal, and 

 not more than three feet high, and the same width at the bottom. 

 For a hedge from five to eight feet high, a width of four feet is suffi- 

 cient, and the top should not be allowed to increase faster than six 

 inches a year till the required height is attained. Where a hedge 

 of greater altitude is desired, we would allow the hemlock to attain 

 the full breadth required for the perfected hedge before permitting 

 much increase in height. If, for instance, a screen fifteen feet high 

 is wanted, then the trees that compose the hedge-row should 

 be allowed to grow until they cover five feet in breadth, while the 

 top should be kept back, so that in four years after planting its 

 section will present the form of an equilateral triangle. Thereafter 

 the bottom should be kept nearly the same width, and the top 

 allowed to increase in height at the rate of not more than a foot a 

 year until the required height is attained. The hemlock and arbor- 

 vitae may be trimmed at any time from the middle of June to the 

 first of October. June and September are, however, the best 

 periods. The soil along young hedge-rows should be cleanly cul- 



