HEDGES AND FENCES 



31 



Ungainly and displeasing. The grass is unkempt; 



the shrubs in front are wild growths that have 



sprung up of their own accord, yet the situation 



is ideal for gardening 



Low hedges of the 

 graceful Ligustrum 

 Regelianum (Regel's 

 Privet) are very hand- 

 some; or Berberis 

 Thunbergii, with its 

 red berries and Fall 

 coloring; or the Jap- 

 anese Quince, which 

 must not be trimmed 

 too closely if it is to 

 appear pretty, with 

 its deep red or pink 

 flowers; or the Sibe- 

 rian Dogwood (Gor- 

 nus alba sibirica). 



For an evergreen hedge, nothing has been used more than Box. This 

 is not hardy in all parts of the North, and is a very slow grower. It 

 is almost the only plant to use except the Dwarf Japanese Yew (Taxus 

 cuspidata var. brevifolia). It is very hardy and has hardly become 

 known as yet in American gardens. Ilex crenata microphylla and 

 Euonymus radicans can also be used. 



Taller hedges are best made of the Ibota (Ligustrum Ibota) and 

 common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare). The California Privet (Ligus- 

 trum ovalifolium) should not be planted in the Northern States; it 

 freezes down too frequently so that it never attains any character. 

 The Golden Privet is very bright and cheery, but hard to buy. The 

 Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is a useful and not easily penetrable 

 hedge. Hedges of Hemlock, Arborvitae and Norway Spruce are 



substantial when the 

 taller ones are wanted. 

 The Hemlock is the 

 finest, since each 

 plant merges into the 

 next admirably. 



A common blun- 

 der with hedges is to 

 locate them too near 

 walks so that they 

 are injured by the 

 constant brushing 

 against them by 

 people as they pass. 



Rough, neglected surroundings no planting 



attempted, no lawn, no shrubs, no flowers. How 



much the dwellers miss! 



