DECORATION OF HOME GROUNDS 93 



Hedges. 



Where the space is narrow or where there are other 

 formal features upon the grounds, the closely -pruned 

 hedge may be used with good effect especially on the 

 boundary line, but is a difficult and expensive thing to 

 grow and keep in good condition, and often furnishes a 

 harbor for insects and vermin. A good well-kept hedge 

 may serve as a fence or high screen, but those plants 



FIG. 29 Low Shrubs Planted in Front of Tall Ones. 



that naturally grow to trees must be used, like the 

 honey locust, buckthorn, osage orange, etc. To keep 

 these trees in a compact dwarf shape they must be 

 pruned several times during each growing season. More 

 graceful hedges are made of such plants as roses, spi- 

 raeas, weigelas, lilacs, Japanese Barberry, etc., by a 

 more open method of pruning, cutting out here and 

 there old canes so that new shoots can grow that will 

 give more and larger flowers than the old wood. 



