EVERGREENS FOR HEDGES. 6 1 



the hedge ; after reaching that point there should be 

 an easy roll over the top to the other side. This top 

 should never be sharp cut nor flat, nor should it be 

 very broad from the sides. For some reason that I 

 am unable to explain, the hemlock does not, when 

 rounded from near the bottom, refuse to grow as 

 well as when it takes the somewhat conical form of 

 the wild tree. This roll of the hedge is not exactly 

 what we might term the natural form of the hemlock 

 tree, nevertheless, I have found it desirable, and 

 entirely practicable to grow my hemlock hedges 

 much more rolling from the bottom on the one side 

 to the bottom on the other than my arbor-vitse 

 hedges. I have never had a gap in either of these 

 hedges due to winter-killing, or in any way traceable 

 to the trimming. You will find it possible, probably, 

 on this style of trimming to get a fairly compact 

 hedge by the end of the fourth year. The hemlock 

 should improve in form and compactness for ten 

 years longer. With careful handling it should 

 retain its completeness and beauty for forty or fifty 

 years more. 



If trees grow near by, or shrubbery crowds 

 against an evergreen hedge, there will surely be dead 

 branches rapidly formed on the side encroached upon. 

 Sometimes this may be endurable, where it occurs 

 on the back side of the hedge, and you do not care 

 to sacrifice a very choice shrub. Where I have found 

 it necessary or desirable to fill up such gaps in arbor- 

 vitse hedges, I have found it much more practicable 

 to fill with hemlock than with arbor-vitae. Take 

 small plants of not more than one foot in hight, set 

 them carefully, and be patient. This fusion of two 



