TIARCH.] FLOWER GARDEN". 295 



larly in the middle states ; in the other states, it should be planted? 

 on the spur of the earliest spring vegetation ; for although it is an. 

 evergreen, its taking and growing freely by slips or cuttings, causes 

 it to agree with early planting, better than those kinds that do not 

 easily propagate in that way ; and moreover, it is very hardy, and 

 seldom injured by winter frosts. 



To make neat edgings, you should get some short bushy box, 

 and let it be slipped or parted into moderately small slips, of not 

 more than from eight to ten inches long, if any of them have roots 

 or fibres, the better, but the cuttings or slips will all grow if planted 

 early, and kept moderately and occasionally watered. The long 

 woody roots of such as have them must be trimmed, and all the 

 plants, slips, or cuttings, made pretty much of a length. 



The method of planting is this : stretch your line, if for a straight 

 edging, along the edge of the bed or border, let that part be trod- 

 den lightly and evenly along, to settle it moderately firm, and with 

 the spade make it up full and even, according to the line ; then on 

 the side of the line next the walk, let a small neat trench be cut 

 out about six inches deep, making the side next the line perfectly 

 upright, turning the earth out towards the walk or alley. 



The box is to be planted in this trench close against the upright 

 side next the line, placing the plants so near together as to form 

 immediately a close compact edging, without being too thick and 

 clumsey, and with the top of the plants as even as possible, all an 

 equal height, not more than an inch or two above the surface of the 

 ground ; and as you proceed in planting, draw the earth up to the out- 

 side of the plants, which fixes them in their due position ; and when 

 you have planted the row out, then with your spade cast in the 

 earth almost to the top of the plants, and tread it neatly and closely 

 thereto : when the edging is planted, let any inequalities of the top 

 be cut as even and neat as possible, with a pair of shears. 



Where there are any gaps in the former planted edgings? 

 let them now be made good ; for when ragged and uneven they have 

 a disagreeable appearance. 



Or where any old edgings of several years standing have been 

 permitted to run up rude and spreading, nothing in a garden looks 

 more unsightly ; and should be taken up, slipped, trimmed, and re- 

 planted in a neat regular order. 



For an account of the various plants generally used for edgings 

 and the methods of planting them, see the Flower Garden next 

 month. They may all be planted towards the latter end of this, if 

 the weather proves favourable. 



Plant Hedges. 



Finish planting all the kinds of deciduous hedges, as early in the 

 month as the weather permits, and if the season proves very fa- 

 vourable, you may in the last week thereof, plant evergren hedges, 

 For the methods of doing which, see the Nursery for this month. 



