OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES 



transferred directly from the forest. Scores 

 of failures I have known on the part of those, 

 who — being delighted with the appearance of 

 some lusty screen of hemlocks — have under- 

 taken to rival it by direct transfer of the wild 

 growth to some lean streak of plowed land, 

 and have thereafter left the shivering field- 

 pensioners to struggle for themselves. The 

 half would very likely or very properly die; 

 the rest maintain only a meagre semblance of 

 life, and show none of that rampant vigor which 

 is essential to the beauty of a hedge. Indeed, 

 except in fully kept garden ground, I would 

 advise no one to make this direct transfer. 

 A season or two in the nursery rows develops 

 an enormous stock of rootlets, and thereafter, 

 with ordinary care, every plant may be counted 

 on. 



I doubt very greatly the serviceableness of 

 any of the evergreen hedges for farm pur- 

 poses; both the hemlock and Norway spruce, 

 for full development, demand considerable 

 width, more than would be consistent with 

 farm-economy, and much greater than would 

 be ordinarily accorded to the hawthorn; be- 

 sides which, they are by no means proof 

 against the mischievous forays of cattle, who 

 love nothing better than to tangle their horns 



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