I^AJSTDSCAFE GASDEKING. 81 



Wild Plum have both been tried, but without favor. The Honey 

 Locust is a tree of perfect hardihood, has no suckers, or long, 

 lateral roots, bears the shears perfectly, and its thorns aid in its 

 forming a perfect barrier. We look upon the Honey Locust as 

 the best plant for forming a farm or road side hedge that is grown 

 in this country. Hedges, apart from their utility, are a necessary 

 feature of the landscape in most districts. The want of them 

 where high cultivation exists, causes a sad blank in the winter 

 scenery ; but it is not in these cases only that we advocate their 

 adoption, for their value on many of the large tracts of land on 

 the prairies and other sections, would be of interest and value to 

 fill. All of this change of varieties of plants to be used for 

 hedges we look upon as coming to us, and in such manner that 

 no hesitation to plant, or care to cultivate, will remain. 



FOEMING OF HEDGES. 



All of the subject matter of instruction as to how to plant 

 hedges, may be told in a few words, and will apply as well to one 

 variety of plant as to another. The whole is, first, to have good 

 soil free from any standing water. Second, make a trench where 

 the hedge is to stand, two feet wide and eighteen inches deep, 

 throwing out all the earth; then dig the earth at the bottom of 

 said trench eight to twelve inches deep ; then throw the best of 

 soil over the bottom to a depth of two inches. Third, select the 

 plants so that in planting they will all be of one size ; then plant 

 (carefully, by spreading the roots and working earth of the best 

 kind among them), at distances varying according to the plants, 

 of 16 to 18, or 20 to 24 inches from plant to plant, covering the 

 upper roots about four inches deep in the trench, and finish by 

 leaving the ground nearly level with its adjacent 



PLANTING FOR SCREENa 



The planting of trees to act as a screen to a building, or pro- 

 tection of a garden or orchard, varies from that of hedges only in 

 placing the trees at greater distances apart 



