845 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Jan, 



PLANTING EDGINGS OF BOX, &C. 



If the weather be mild and dry, edgings of box, tlirift, &c. 

 may be planted. In preparing the ground for box-edgings, it 

 Is necessary that it be well trodden or beaten down, and 

 rendered level with the surface of the intended walk. The 

 line should then be stretched upon it, and with a spade a 

 neat even trench should be made six or eight inches deep, 

 turning the earth out to the side next the walk. Against the 

 side of this trench, which should be rather sloping, the box- 

 ])lants are placed, and kept steady in their place by pressing 

 the back of the hand against them, while, with the other, the 

 earth thrown out in its formation is placed over the roots and 

 against the plants, which keeps them in their proper place 

 and position. 



In preparing the plants for planting, let them be moderately 

 divided, and thinned out in form of a fan, the large and woody 

 roots cut off, as well as the tips of the tops, so that, wlien 

 the plants are planted, the line will appear straight, level, and 

 equal throughout. Let a sufficient quantity of mould be 

 placed to their roots, and the whole afterwards filled up with 

 gravel, and the walk neatly rolled down. 



Edciniis of thrift, Statice armerta, a native of our sea- 

 coasts and highest mountains, is often planted, and while 

 young, looks neat, but, from its rapid growth and short dura- 

 lion, is not so well calculated for edgings as box ; it is readily 

 ))ropngated by dividing the plants into pieces; whether they 

 have fibrous roots or not is of little consequence to their 

 growth : they may be planted as already directed for box, or 

 dibbled in at three inches apart. 



PROPAGATING HARDY SHRUBS BY CUTTINGS. 



Many hardy deciduous shrubs will now succeed by tins 

 mode of propagating. The young shoots of last year s growth 

 should invariably be made choice of, and cut into lengths 

 according to the various sizes and kinds; by autumn they wdl 

 be fit either to plant out into nursery lines, or some of them 

 may be sufficiently strong to plant out permanently in the 

 shrubberies. 



