Historic Gardens of Virginia 



plants were pulled out by hand, and the soil between rows fre- 

 quently worked with a hoe. I commenced by the first week in 

 April to water the box plants each day, if it did not rain, so that 

 the ground below the surface never lost its moisture. By the first 

 part of May they were growing most encouragingly, I wish to 

 emphasize that the most important thing in growing boxwood from 

 slips, after they are rooted, is to M'ater them incessantly. I don't 

 believe you can use too much water. My boxwood is now eigh- 

 teen months old, and from six to nine inches high. This November 

 it will be transplanted to the walks throughout the lawn. Ever 

 since a visit to beautiful old Brandon several years ago, I have 

 dreamed of boxwood hedges, and I must have boxwood hedges. 

 I found the one way I could get them was to grow them, and so I 

 started in, and all of you practical gardeners know the joy of 

 watching something grow hardy and beautiful, when in the begin- 

 ning it was but an experiment." 



South of the house and sheltered by it from the full sweep of 

 the north winds, lies the garden which has long been noted in the 

 annals of Virginia. In form it is semi-circular, A ten-foot turfed 

 walk extends between clumps of althea, lilac and syringa, crepe 

 myrtles, spiraea and mimosa trees, and beds rich in iris, paeonies 

 and other perennials. Hackberry, ash and elm trees overshadow 

 the rose-draped fence and trellises at the entrance. These are 

 covered with a profusion of century-old damask roses of marvelous 

 perfume, and scores of others, some of the names of which are all 

 but forgotten amid the motley throng of modern blooms. 



Beginning at the garden entrance and multiplying farther on 

 stand sempervirens box trees, their tops modified in pointed 

 arborescence. These splendid box trees, defiant of time and trim- 

 med to perfect cones, throw their shafts fifteen feet into the sky. 

 With scattering knots of dwarf box they add great dignity to this 

 garden laid out many years ago. It is gratifying to tell that the 



[132] 



