62 HEDGES., WINDBREAKS, SHELTERS, ETC. 



species of evergreens is not always undesirable. The 

 arbor-vitse and hemlock work specially well together. 

 It must be borne in mind that evergreen will not 

 grow with equal thrift in sun and in shade, or when 

 half shaded. These inequalities can be partially 

 remedied by careful trimming. I have been able to 

 run my arbor-vitse hedges for over a quarter of a 

 mile over the ground, and so adjust them to the grade 

 that they do not give to the eye an unpleasant lack 

 of either symmetry or uniformity. I know that they 

 are not of equal hight or equal fullness, but I know 

 that my shears have made them appear to be such. 



Evergreen hedges are ruined more often by 

 errors in trimming than by all other causes com- 

 bined. The following rules, if followed carefully, 

 will be sure to keep any well-grown hedge in good 

 condition for thirty or forty years, probably longer : 

 ( I ) Trim only once a year, and always before new 

 growth appears, in the latter part of April or early 

 in May. That is, if the spring be warm, cut in 

 March, if not, in April. Never cut in midwinter, 

 for the tips that you cut away are intended b.y nature 

 as a protection for the buds which will make next 

 summer's growth. If cut away, the probabilities are 

 that cold days and severe frosts will either kill back 

 the hedge in spots, or nip the buds enough to spoil 

 the beauty of the coming growth. Remember that 

 a hemlock hedge is beautiful not simply for its shape, 

 but for the exquisite blossoming of its fresh growth. 

 Nor should you ever cut in autumn, and that for the 

 same reason, that ygu would be cutting away the 

 cloak that nature has prepared for the hedge during 

 the coming winter. If you do cut in autumn you will 



