CHAPTER V 

 ORNAMENTAL HEDGE PLANTS 



THE principal plants used in the making of ornamental and at the 

 same time useful hedges are Arbor vitae, euonymus, holly, privet 

 and yew. Of these, some are raised from seeds, some from cuttings, 

 and some either way. 



The Arbor vitae practically reduce themselves to two varieties, 

 Thuja occidentalis and T. lobbii. We have already referred else- 

 where to the latter and given it that, in our opinion, it is the best 

 of all the hedge plants, for it grows densely and quickly, probably 

 three times as fast as the yew, than which it is much less spreading. 



Incidentally we may here mention that it makes a magnificent 

 specimen tree, and we have seen pieces 40 feet high clothed and 

 feathered to the ground running up a perfect cone from its broad 

 base to its thread-like apex. 



The seeds of both these Arbor vitae should be sown in pans in 

 May, using a light but well-firmed compost. They should then be 

 stood in a cold frame or under a handlight, being kept close and 

 shaded till the seedlings appear through the soil. Or, either of them 

 may be raised from cuttings, made and treated as shown in Chap- 

 ter II. Of the two forms we prefer the seedlings for hedges, as 

 they appear to be more vigorous in their habit, though perhaps this 

 is more noticeable during the first two or three years. 



ENGLISH YEWS 



The English yew is a magnificent subject where a thick high 

 hedge is needed. It is the most highly prized as it is the most 

 notable and typical of all our hedge trees. It is suited to a large 

 garden where everything is on the large scale, and fits in best with 

 old English surroundings. It is slow-growing and long-lived, and 

 has a proclivity towards growing in width equal to its height. While 

 it can be and is very often raised from cuttings, the major portion 

 are seedlings. In most parts of the country where land is expensive 

 growers prefer to buy one or two-year seedlings rather than raise 



23 



