WALLS. FTJEZE WALLS. WISE FEIfCINa. HEDGES. 9 



good protector. To hide its unseemliness, it may be 

 covered with ornamental creepers, or with fruit trees, 

 which none can think an eyesore anywhere. A wooden 

 fence, for its own duration and to keep it from being a 

 harbour for insects, should be well tarred. Almost all 

 walls, for their own protection and that of the trees and 

 plants trained against them, should have a coping at the 

 top to project a little beyond their surface, thus preventing 

 the rain from soaking into the substance of the wall, and 

 trickling down its sides to the injury of the plants. A 

 wall of earth by itself has not the power of withstanding 

 wear and tear for a length of time ; but if it have the 

 protection of a lattice against it and a coping at the top, 

 it may do. A wall of turf, also, may be made lasting 

 under proper treatment. Let it be three feet wide at 

 the bottom, tapering to fifteen inches at the top, and sow 

 it well with furze seed, which may be bought at the 

 seedsman's at Is. 6d» per pound. When the furze grows, 

 clip it, and keep the whole surface regularly clipped, and 

 in time it will be like a good-looking green wall. Orna- 

 mental wire fencing is neat, and does very well, provided 

 a more substantial screen be not required for shelter. 

 Evergreen hedges always look nice, bright, and pretty, 

 and with the constant care they are likely to get if their 

 home is the flower garden, they are sure to do well : 

 they are thick when shelter is most needed, and almost 

 all the year round form a pleasant screen for the eye to 

 rest on, and a good background for bright vegetation and 

 gay flowers. Laurel, yew, and holly, are all good, as are 

 also the evergreen privet and box, if the locality be one 

 which favours its growth. Many recommend mixing in 

 the hedge flowering trees and shrubs, such as laurustinus, 

 Cydonia Japonica (formerly known as Firus Japonica), 

 flowering currant, and double-blossomed furze; but for 

 the convenience of keeping the hedges constantly 

 clipped, it is better to plant such trees apart from the 

 hedge, although they may be placed in front of it, so as 

 to break its uniformity. A hedge of ivy, trained in a 

 thick mass over an open paling or wire fence, forms a 

 good background. It has the advantage that any inex- 



