Renovating and Improving Old Homes 107 



shrubs were planted. After being well established, the 

 after pruning given should be in the direction of the dotted 

 line a, Fig. 47. 



Hedges like the honey-locust, Osage orange, buckthorn, 

 privet, and Japan quince, which have long been neglected, 

 may often be renovated by a little heroic treatment. Fig. 61 

 is a sectional view illustrating the condition in which neg- 

 lected hedges often are found. By cutting this hedge at 

 the dotted line, and then as the young shoots grow unevenly 

 pruning off the ends of the most vigorous, a uniform height 

 and a low-branching condition may be soon attained, with- 

 out which no hedge is either ornamental or useful. 



A hedge is under some conditions an ornamental feature 

 of a landscape view and often serves as a screen from some 

 unsightly object; but generally there is little of the orna- 

 mental or useful about it. Where growing on old places 

 in nine cases out of ten it will be found that more pleasing 

 effects may be obtained by the removal of such a hedge, and 

 grass and a few naturally formed trees and shrubs planted 

 about the place occupied by it than by trying to renew its 

 growth as a hedge. Evergreen hedges, when not too large, 

 may be renewed by the heroic treatment, but it takes several 

 years after heading in for them to become again covered with 

 foliage so as to be ornamental. 



For full description and care of hedges see Chapter V. 



Renovating Hardy Herbaceous Plants 



On many an old place may be found more or less of those 

 most interesting and desirable hardy herbaceous plants, like 

 peonies, phloxes, larkspur, iris, etc., that may be utilized 

 in the decoration of a home. Generally they are root- 

 bound among grass and shrubs, and can never be made 

 of any value unless taken up and transplanted to good, 

 clean, well-enriched soil. In doing this only the strong 



