144 PRACTICAL LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



beveled on top, with a projection of about one-half inch on each 

 side. All stucco walls should be covered with quick growing vines. 

 Boston I\^ (Ampelopsis Veitchii), Red-berried Euonymus {Euonymus 

 vegetus), and English R^y {Hedera helix) are suitable. 



DRY STONE WALLS 



The rubble stone wall of field boulders is most satisfactory, 

 and, when partly covered by vines, is highly picturesque. The 

 dry wall may also be used to enclose the garden, especially in loca- 

 tions where good rock is to be had on the ground. When used for 

 this purpose they should batter or break back from each side, vines 

 to be planted along the full length at irregular intervals. The vines 

 should not be allowed to cover the entire wall. Rather, for reasons 

 of contrast, and to show decidedly the limitations of the garden 

 and the formidableness of the retaining and supporting walls, quite 

 good stretches of it should be left uncovered. 



Rubble waUs (Fig. 121) are particularly good where a retaining 

 wall is required to maintain an embankment. The dry wall is less 

 expensi\'e than one laid in mortar and gives a greater latitude for 

 ornamental treatment. Quarried stone or stone gathered on the 

 property may be used for this purpose. The larger the stones the 

 laetter. If the stones are from a quarry they should be as long as 

 it is possible to secure them. 



The dry wall should have a batter of not less than one inch to 

 the foot, and where it is proposed to use Alpine plants in the inter- 

 stices it is better to have a batter of three inches to the foot. The 

 building of a dry wall for plants is given in greater detail in the 

 chapter on Rock Plants. 



HEDGES 



The hedges of various plants are much less expensive and fulfil 

 many requirements as a dividing line between lawn and garden. 

 The Privet hedge is the most popular, as its quick growth and dark 

 green leafage form an excellent background in a short period of 

 time. The California Privet {Ligustruni ovalifolium), which is most 

 frequently used, is not hardy in some latitudes; the tops are occa- 

 sionally killed to the ground in Philadelphia, and instances are re- 

 ported of the same damage being done in Kentucky. For cold 

 latitudes the variety Ligustrum Ibota is more satisfactory. The 



