THE GENESEE FARMER. 



371 



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SCREENS AND ORNAMENTAL HEDGES. 



In this country, at the present time, the subject- 

 of hedges is one that attracts the attention of every 

 cultivator, whether of broad acres or of a village 

 lot ; and although as a body our farmers and horti- 

 culturists have made no great advancement practi- 

 cally, in the way of growing hedges, yet the 

 questions how and when and what to plant, are 

 continually being a-.ked. 



For defensive hedges, several plants have been 

 'Toved to combine sufficient qualifications to entitle 

 .em to be employed for this purpose. If those 

 ivho constantly parade their failures to make 

 hedges with various valuable plants, had as much 

 skill or perseverance to grow hedges as the plants 

 they use have the capacity of being grown into 

 good hedges, our ears and our eyes, also, would be 

 better pleased. "Whether, however, the Osage 

 Orange, the Buckthorn, the Hawthorn, or what 

 not, be the most valuable for barriers, we do not 

 propose now to discuss. 



Stralling cattle and swine, and thievish bipeds, 

 are not the only intruders, against which it is 

 necessary for the cultivator to provide for defense. 

 The severe winds, in the spring months, are pro- 

 ductive of much harm, to most crops that are 

 exposed to them. Orchards, whose high tops 

 receive the full force of the blasts, and the kitchen 

 and flower gardens, whose tender products can ill 

 afford untimely checks, particularly deserve the 

 protection that can be given by well grown screens. 



In situations, as on prairies at the west, where 

 the wind passes unchecked over a great range of 

 country, and where timber is valuable, the planting 

 of belts of woods of different varieties of native 

 trees can not be too highly recommended ; but 

 where a single line, only, is wanted, no deciduous 

 tree is desirable, although at first thought, many 

 rapid-growing sorts, such as Poplars, "Willows, etc., 

 may suggest themselves; these are destitute of 

 foliage at the very season of the year when their 

 protection is most needed. 



Almost any of the evergreens which flourish in 

 this climate may successfQlly be employed for 



screens. Those which we have seen most used for 

 this purpose, are the American Arbor Vita), Norway 

 Spruce, and Scotch Pine. Planted from eight to 

 twelve feet apart, in a few years they form a close, 

 unbroken line. 



Besides the situations we have alluded to, where 

 these screens are desirable, we may also mention 

 that they are not least beneficial on the north 

 and west sides of dwellings, barns, stables, and 

 cattle-sheds. In a g^arden of about two acres, in 

 the suburbs of this city, that has been under our 

 observation for several years, which is well pro- 

 tected by high fences and trees on the north and 

 west sides, we have noticed a very perceptible 

 difference in the warmth of the atmosphere from 

 that outside. Strawberries are usually ripe in this 

 garden, although it has a northern exposure, a 

 week or ten days before they appear in the market. 



For inside division lines, there is quite a variety 

 of plants that are well adapted. It is desirable 

 that these hedges should be kept low — say from 

 three to five feet, so as not to obstruct the view of 

 surrounding scenery. For the purpose of dividing 

 off a portion of ground about the house from the 

 rest of the farm, for separating the lawn from the 

 kitchen garden or orchard, and for inside bounda- 

 ries of village lots, and for screens to hide unsightly 

 objects and similar purposes, good taste will always 

 prefer a well-grown, tidy hedge to the most expen- 

 sive kind of paling. 



Among deciduous plants for this use, the one 

 most commonly employed is the 



Privet {Ligustrum vulgare), and it well deserves 

 to be the first in the rank ; its tenacity of life, 

 rapid growth, numerous branches, and thick, small, 

 shining, dark green, half-persistent foliage, all re- 

 commend it to the favor of the planter. 



The common Berberry (Berieris vulgaris), is a 

 plant finely adapted for screens, bearing the shears 

 well. The yellow blossoms which it produces in 

 June, followed by bright scarlet berries, make it 

 quite ornamental. 



The Althea {Hibiscus Syriacus), now becoming 

 well known, we have seen used for screens with a 

 beautiful effect. There are a variety of sorts of 

 this plant, bearing various colored flowers, both 

 single and double. This hedge, in the fall of the 

 year, covered with its hollyhock-like flowers, is a 

 very handsome sight. 



The Japan Quince (Pyrus or Cydonia Japonica), 

 a comparatively new plant, has many points to 

 recommend it for low hedges. Its leaves are sma 1 

 and thick, dark shining green, and very lasting. 

 Its strong thorns render it impenetrable by small 



