3O HEDGES, WINDBREAKS, SHELTERS, ETC. 



lower branches to make new ones above, must be 

 held in check. 



Where hedges have to serve partly for utility, 

 in turning hens or possibly larger creatures, impene- 

 trability must be sought for. Your wish is to divide 

 vitality and distribute the growth evenly to all 

 branches. A perfect hedge is as strong in one point 

 as in another. To secure this requires that there be 

 no neglect during the first three years after planting. 

 No part must get the advantage. Then after your 

 hedge is well established, if neglected for a year or 

 two, the balance will be broken ; and a few branches 

 will have surmounted the rest, while a part will have 

 died out altogether. 



Most of the deciduous hedges as they grow 

 require trimming twice a year. This should be done 

 in May, and at such time later as growth may indicate 

 necessity. The buckthorn, as a rule, should be cut 

 the second time in July or August. When the 

 growth has been checked by drouth I have sometimes 

 trimmed as late as September. When first planted, 

 and until well shaped, I trim three times or even 

 more, being regulated solely by the rapidity of 

 growth. Nearly all deciduous hedges have a habit, 

 while young, of sending out a shoot here and there 

 of unusual strength. These must not be allowed to 

 get much start, or they will have accomplished a good 

 deal very quickly in the way of weakening other 

 shoots. It must, however, be remembered con- 

 stantly that, if you trim a hedge very late in the 

 season, there will be a growth put forth that will not 

 have time to ripen its wood, and you will get winter- 

 killing- of even very hardy plants, 



