HEDGES FOR SMALL LAWNS. 47 



has heretofore extended to the fence line, occupy also 

 the street line to the ditch. Then the driveway, 

 which alone has public ownership, will pass through 

 continuous shrubbery. 



In some instances I find fruit trees along the 

 highway. This is peculiarly the opposite of the use 

 of hedges, for instead of fencing people out it invites 

 them to participate with us. It is hospitable; but I 

 have not observed that such trees are largely meddled 

 with by pedestrians. I find the grouping of ever- 

 greens down to the roadway is very agreeable. In 

 New Jersey towns and a few New York towns I 

 have seen the choicer shrubs in full bloom within 

 reach of the hands of passers-by. The lilac reaches 

 to you its perfume and the cherry tree its fruit in the 

 suburbs and main streets of Ithaca. This is delight- 

 ful; and why not? It is vastly more human than 

 cultivating your fine things behind stone walls or 

 board fences or hedges. Flower beds in the street 

 are better than cows and swine. I think it will be 

 the idea of the twentieth century. We shall prob- 

 ably see by the end of twenty-five more years all of 

 our ugly, weed-bedraggled highways turned into a 

 public garden, reaching everywhere ; and binding all 

 homes together with bands of beauty and of 

 good will. 



I have not undertaken to suggest all the appro- 

 priate uses of shrubs and other hedge plants about, 

 our homes. It is enough to say that no one should 

 undertake the establishment of a beautiful home 

 until he has first made a thorough and personal study 

 of his land, and so become identified with it that he 

 will comprehend its best use and its possibilities for 



