70 dreer's garden calendar. 



Hedges. 



A well-kept hedge is one of the greatest ornaments of a country 

 residence. The Osage Orange has been much used as a plant for 

 forming strong outside fences, and when properly cared for will give 

 satisfaction. The Honey Locust is nothing inferior; indeed, it is pre- 

 ferred by those who have made trial of both. It grows freely, although 

 the soil may not be of the best description, and fills out readily from 

 shearing. For inside dividing hedges, the Pyrus Japonica cannot 

 well be excelled, and the box-leaved Privet is also well adapted. Very 

 beautiful hedges can be made with the European beech. Buckthorn 

 is also much used for the same purpose. 



Many hardy flowering shrubs may easily be trimmed hedge-fashion, 

 and form beautiful objects when in flower. Weiglea roses, Spireas of 

 various kinds, the Berberries, Hibiscus, &c, are a few of those most 

 useful in this respect. 



For Evergreen hedges, nothing suits better than the American arbor- 

 vitse. The Hemlock Spruce is unequalled in its adaptability, and 

 forms perhaps the most beautiful hedge of * any. The Cedars and 

 Junipers make good screens. Where a strong and dense hedge is 

 wanted, the Norway Spruce will be found satisfactory. Many plants 

 will grow compact, if cut and trimmed with sufficient care. 

 



Box-Edging. 



Few people, except professed gardeners, know how this handsome 

 border ornament ought to be planted. It is usually stuck in a few 

 inches, and left straggling on top of the ground, with three or four 

 times as much top and three or four times less bottom, than it ought to 

 have. Box grows nearly as well from the branches as the roots. Now 

 the trench in which the edging is to be planted should be a full spade 

 deep on the border srde, being a few inches shallower on the alley side 

 — the soil-should be made fine — and the box inserted to the bottom of 

 the trench, packed in tightly with soil, leaving only from one and a 

 half to two and a half inches out of ground. There will be no danger 

 of it not growing, or of producing full foliage at the ground. Of 

 course, no one would think of planting Box without a line. 



Trimming box-edging is rarely performed either skilfully or judi- 

 ciously. Instead of cutting off the top squarely, and below the pre- 

 ceding year's growth, let it be pruned to an angle like the letter a, 

 taking care not to cut below^the new growth, and you will, through the 

 whole season, have a beautifully green, thrifty edging. 



Having devoted the greater portion of our space to the Flower -and 

 ent gardens, we have but a few words to add on the subject of 



