FLOWERING AND OTHER HEDGES 311 



within the last year or two, the latter have stood for 

 three or four, and become coarse rooted, suffering, 

 therefore, after removal. 



Arbor-vit^. — For a hedge this and Thuya gigantea 

 can be placed together. The common Arbor-Vitae 

 is sometimes not liked because it gets brown in 

 winter, but this colouring is not so pronounced in 

 Thuya gigantea. In preparing the ground little or no 

 manure need be trenched in, but a dressing of spent 

 manure may be added with advantage. The soil 

 should be as good as possible, but not too heavy. 

 They may be clipped at any season, and for the first 

 two or three years twice annually will not be too 

 often. It is wise to cut off from six inches to one 

 foot of the leaders every year, otherwise the plants 

 attain a great height without breadth. If a hedge 

 of these conifers is allowed to become rough and 

 ragged, it is almost impossible to restore it, as it 

 will not, except in special cases break from the 

 older wood. 



Box. — The dwarf edging so largely used for 

 borders and paths needs no description, but the 

 Common Box is not so largely used because it gets 

 yellow, the result of sheer starvation, the Box being 

 a gross feeder, requiring plenty of feeding at all 

 times. It should have a dressing of manure annually, 

 or at least biennially, to keep it in good health and 

 colour. It should be clipped in the spring, April 

 or May being the best months, and a top-dressing 

 about the same time will be very beneficial to it. 

 Box is a good shrub for an inside hedge, but should 



