IN THE MAKING 7 



will have a hedge that is lacking in strength and sub- 

 stance, easily blown out of shape by every wind, and also 

 one that is very difficult to clip in anything like a 

 proper way, on account of its many strong branches 

 growing toward the outside that should have been re- 

 moved to make room for a thicker growth. Each year, 

 when the work of clipping is being done, a sharp lookout 

 should be kept for all small branches or shoots that are 

 inclined to grow toward the outside of the tree or hedge, 

 and these must be removed whenever they are seen. . . . 

 Those shoots in the course of a few years will grow into 

 strong branches, and become a regular nuisance in the 

 way of keeping them constantly tied in." 



A hedge may be cut into any desired form at the top, 

 but exactness is of prime importance. A garden line 

 should be run on either side at the bottom of the hedge 

 and another along the top at the desired height. In the 

 case of a hedge cut into battlements a line should be 

 used at the top and base of the battlements, " and what- 

 ever size and width the battlements are, say, for in- 

 stance, two feet high and two feet in width between 

 them, a stick cut exactly two feet in length, or a two- 

 foot rule should be used to measure the exact height and 

 distance between the battlements." 



Some people care for free-growing, flowering hedges, 

 but I think they are not positive enough to serve as 

 a fence, but may be very charming following paths or 

 drives or used as a screen. 



