ENCLOSING THE GARDEN 31 



growth of this is very rapid. The cockspur thorn {Cratcegus Crus- 

 galli) is a great favorite among good planters, for its summer 

 beauty and fine autumn fruit. 



A good simple rule for the informal planting of such shrubs for 

 an enclosing border, given by Mr. O.C.Simonds, is this: "Straight 

 rows should be avoided. A laborer or novice, when told this, will 

 arrange the plants in a zig-zag manner, thinking that he is plac- 

 ing them irregularly, the result often being almost the same as 

 that of two rows. If the group is being planted along a straight 

 line, as the boundary of a lot, the distance of the successive 

 plants from this line ought to be somewhat as follows: two feet, 

 foiu: feet, five feet, three feet, one foot; and the distance apart, 

 measiu"ed parallel with a fixed line, should vary also." This 

 definite idea of measurement can very well be used to lay down 

 the guiding hose mentioned in a later paragraph (page 48). 



In the use of shrubs for the small lot, however, it is a mistake 

 to think that any rule is absolute. While, for instance, a bound- 

 ary planting is often desirable, often necessary, under certain 

 conditions none should occur. The same is true with setting 

 shrubs about the foundations of a house. Planting is usually 

 needed where the foundation or basement wall of a house rises 

 some feet above the ground, to meet a wall of a totally different 

 material, like wood. There is an incongruous line in this meet- 

 ing, which it is best to hide, to some extent at least. But often, 

 where a good wall of brick or stone comes smoothly to a right 

 angle with the well-kept grass of a small lawn, the effect is more 

 interesting if this joining is occasionally visible. 



Deep digging, good manuring or fertilizing, and firm tramping 

 down around the little plants, are the essentials for setting a 

 hedge. The low-growing kinds, such as Japanese or Thunberg's 

 barberry, or Privet ibota, should be set six inches to a foot apart. 

 Professor Mulf ord advises setting plants for the very low hedge. 



