140 HOETICULTUKAL MANUAL. 



now disfigured by dead patches. With plants of the habit 

 of growth of privet, if needed strength of root is secured, 

 they must be planted twenty inches apart, and as a start 

 for securing a low base the plants must be cut off when 

 planted to stubs only six inches in height. The first 

 growth must be largely lateral as a foundation to build on. 

 Each year thereafter the top can be raised, with sheared 

 sides, until the required height is reached. 



With such evergreens as white spruce and hemlock this 

 severe cutting back at first cannot be practised. But by 

 using plants not more than ten inches in height the 

 lateral growth for a base can soon be secured by pinching 

 or slight clipping of the up-growing points. 



The main pruning should be done in the dormant 

 period, but the lighter summer clipping of deciduous 

 plants and the pinching or light clipping of the conifers, 

 must also be kept up while the hedge is forming and after 

 its final height and width have been reached. 



In planting for ornamental screens plants can be used 

 with a natural thick base, such as lilac, caragana, and 

 Amur barberry. With slight pruning at top and sides 

 these can be kept in neat form, while heavy pruning would 

 take off most of the flowering and fruiting wood. 



