GARDENS NEAR THE SEA 



large estates, where abundant planting is done inside 

 the gates, the employment of hedges to shut off the 

 property is not so necessary as in many other cases, 

 although to some minds desirable. 



The California privet, Ligustrum ovalifolium, has, 

 in the last few years, made its way as a hedge plant 

 faster than any other. It is not evergreen, but its 

 dark, abundant foliage holds until late in the autumn. 

 The shrub grows rapidly and, with the exception of 

 the necessary summer pruning to keep it at a desired 

 height, requires little care. It will not live in the 

 extremely bleak and cold situations of the far north. 

 L. ibota, a Japanese variety which is very hardy, is 

 a better combatant of severe climatic conditions. 



There are, besides, privets of golden variegated 

 foliage, — and one especially of pendulous habit, — 

 which are useful to mingle with shrubbery or to plant 

 singly. For the hedge, however, they have scarcely 

 the restful, sturdy qualities of the better known 

 varieties. 



Another hedge plant that makes an appeal pre- 

 eminently through its green, although non-evergreen, 

 foliage, is the buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica, one 

 well known, but of more general use in old gardens 

 than in those of to-day. The wonderful buckthorn 

 hedge shown in plate xxii. is over eighty years old,- — a 

 fact worthy of comment, even though a century ago 

 buckthorn was most popular for making hedges and 

 forming arches. This hedge is seven feet high and 

 seven feet across its top. It can be seen at Salem 

 by the shore of the river and scarcely a mile away 



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