HEDGES 



cause of its fine growth and almost evergreen 

 habit. It is not entirely hardy in New Eng- 

 land, and many hedges are destroyed by severe 

 frost. 



Berheris thunbergii — Purple-Leaved Bar- 

 berry — is one of the most attractive and popular 

 hedge plants, but it has been used so generally 

 in parks that it has lost the charm of novelty. 

 It has, however, many good qualities to recom- 

 mend it to consideration. The plants grow ex- 

 tremely thick right from the ground, and require 

 very little pruning to keep them in shape. The 

 branches are pendulous, covered with clusters 

 of small, light-green leaves, which in the au- 

 tumn assume a brilliant scarlet. Its beauty in 

 the spring is enhanced by clusters of yellow 

 blossoms, giving place to masses of bright 

 scarlet berries, which remain nearly all winter. 



Hibiscus syriacus — Rose-of-Sharon — lends 

 itself to hedge-making. It has the merit of 

 blooming in August and September, a season 

 when few other shrubs are in flower. It is re- 

 markably free from fungous diseases and the 

 attacks of insects. 



Cydonia japonica — Japan Quince — is espe- 

 cially desirable on account of its good habits 

 and handsome foliage. In the early spring the 

 hedge is aflame, and in summer the reddish 

 tinge of the new leaves affords an unusually 



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