A New Idea for Trimmed Hedges—By Aldred Scott Warthin, ™ 
Michi- 
THE MATRIMONY VINE ISHARDIER THAN THE PRIVET, RICHER GREEN, AND BEARS BRILLIANT SCARLET 
FRUITS IN WINTER. 
INE have I seen any mention of the 
especial adaptability to hedge-pur- 
poses of the matrimony vine. A generation 
ago matrimony vine was largely planted 
throughout Michigan as a vine for fences 
and screens; and on many old places at 
the present times there may be found fences 
covered with a dense shrubby growth 
answering more to the description of L. 
barbarum than to that of L. halimifolium in 
so far as its character of shrubbiness is 
concerned, although otherwise corresponding 
closely to the plant now sold under the latter 
name (or L. vulgare of the trade). 
On one of the older streets of Ann Arbor, 
old plants of matrimony vine had been grow- 
ing for many years in a straggling manner 
over an old fence, swaying out over the 
sidewalk so luxuriantly, as finally to be 
condemned by the city authorities as a 
nuisance, the property having been prac- 
tically abandoned for several years. On its 
passing into the hands of a lover of flowers 
and neatness, the old fence was removed, 
supporting wires put in, the straggling 
branches severely trimmed and the root 
runners grubbed out. 
The hedge is about five feet high, and is as 
dense as trimmed privet. The leaves are 
a better green and keep their color well 
through November. Throughout the sum- 
mer there is a profusion of inconspicuous 
purplish flowers followed by bright red 
berries the majority of which are about half 
an inch long, that also persist well into the 
winter. The leaves appear earlier in the 
spring than do those of privet. The plant 
stands trimming excellently, the foliage and 
flowers being greatly increased thereby. 
With age and repeated trimming the hedge 
becomes converted into a dense shrubby 
growth no longer requiring support. The 
main branches and trunks have as great a 
diameter as those of the ordinary privet 
hedge —three-quarters to one and a_ half 
inches. ‘This plant is usually classed among 
the vines or trailing shrubs and three names 
are offered in the nursery catalogues, Lycowm 
barbarum, Chinense and halimifolium or 
vulgare. ‘The first is described as a shrub 
with long, slender, trailing branches bearing 
green leaves that retain their color until late 
in the fall and contrast well with the abundant 
red fruit. It is probably the real L. Chinense. 
The last is the common matrimony vine 
and is a luxuriant trailing species from 
Hedge of the matrimony vine (Lycium halimifolium). Hardier than privet and bears scarlet fruits 
128 
AFTER A FEW YEARS OF PRUNING AND TRAINING IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING 
China, bearing a profusion of scarlet-red 
berries. 
The plants that I have seen put out under 
the name of L. Chinense cannot be distin- 
guished from L. vulgare and are probably 
the same as the latter, which is native in 
the Mediterranean region and was introduced 
into this country from Europe, and now 
grows wild in many places where it has 
escaped from cultivation. 
[The ‘‘ Cyclopedia of American Horti- 
culture” gives L. vulgare as a synonym of 
L. halimifolium, and states that L. Chinense 
is of more vigorous growth with branches 12 
feet long; leaves ovate instead of wedge 
shaped; bright green, instead of grayish- 
green; and up to 3 inches in length, where- 
as those of halimifolium do not exceed 2 
inches. The fruit of halimifolium is given 
as being sometimes yellow, half an inch 
long, while that of Chinense is bright 
orange to scarlet and an inch long. Prob- 
ably the plants commonly in the trade are 
not Chinense at all.—Ep1ror.] 
The chief advantages of the plant for 
hedge purposes lie in the fact that it is 
absolutely hardy in a climate where privet 
has twice within three years been killed to the 
ground, and in its great vitality of growth. 
It will apparently stand all extremes of 
exposure and conditions. If it has any bad 
quality it is that of excessive vigor of growth 
in suckering and layering. In the case of 
a neglected hedge sprouts may be found 
twenty feet away from the main plants. 
With a small amount of attention the runners 
which are very superficial can be easily dis- 
posed of once a year, the early spring being 
the best time for this. The vitality of these 
is surprising. A pail of these runners was left 
for several months under a tree, the only sup- 
ply of moisture being that derived from occa- 
sional very heavy rains. At the close of the 
summer these neglected roots were still alive 
and sprouting. It seems almost impossible 
to kill them. This excess of vitality is, more- — 
over, one of the most comforting things 
about the plant. It is certainly gratifying 
to find a plant of vigorous growth and resist- 
ance to unfavorable conditions that will grow 
by itself, without coddling or coaxing. 
It grows most rapidly and luxuriantly in 
a dark sandy loam. It is easily propagated 
by cuttings or layering, but most easily by 
transplanting root runners and_ suckers. 
The best time to do this is in the spring, just 
before the leaf-buds open, if quick results 
are desired. It is possible, however, to 
transplant these runners when they are in 
full leaf, and it may be done now. Set the 
plants close together, along a supporting 
fence of posts and wire and as the trailing 
branches develop they must be twisted about 
the wires.. Trimming is begun during the 
second year. With selective cultivation its 
tendency to shrubbiness might be increased. 
