JuLT 13, 1913. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



529 



FOXGLOVES. 



These handsome flowers are among the 

 nioet effective hardy perennials for natur- 

 alising on the outskirts of shrubberies, in 

 rhododendron beds, or in various places in 

 the wild garden. If planted in large nitisses 

 they form especially picturesque objects 

 during the early months of summer, and in 

 a number of cases they seed freely, and 

 many plants spring up year after year. 

 They are not at all particular as regards 

 position and cultural management, as they 

 succeed well in full sunshine or in partial 

 shade, and self-sown seedlings flourish on 

 uncultivated ground almost as vigorously as 

 thoee growing in prepared borders. I'ox- 



WHITETHORN, OR QUICK, 



FOR HEDGES. 



On page 499, date, June 20, *'E. M." 

 asks for information respecting my advo- 

 cacy for planting thorn he<lges in double 

 lines in preference to one single line of 

 plants. My explanation of this is that, 

 when planted in double lines, and the plants 

 placed alternately with each other, more 

 can, without undue crowding, be inserted 

 within a given length or space ; further- 

 more, should any fail to grow the vacancy 

 thus created is less noticeable than would 

 probably be the case where the single row 

 system is practised. Secondly 



gloves can be obtained in a variety of most important, with a double line of plants 



eight years, as a rule, must necessarily 

 elapse from the time of planting a thorn 

 hedge to that when it may be relied on as 

 an effective barrier to cattle without any 

 extraneous aids. The latter usually take 

 the form of post and wire, or post and bar 

 erections, which, for the division of agricul- 

 tural land, must be erected on both sides 

 of the young hedge. Guards of this sort, 

 made with uncreosoted material, remain 

 fairly strong and sound for tho time speci- 

 fied, but if required longer repairs are 

 generally necessary. If by double line 

 planting a year is gained in the growth, 

 and more particularly in the impregna- 

 bility of the hedge, whereby post and wire 

 fences may be dispensed with while yet in 



r 



1 - 



AN ABEANGEMENT OF FOXGLOVES AND lEIS IN THE GEASS AT BATSFOED PAEK 



colours, including white^ cream, rose, red, 

 purple, and other shades. One of their 

 greatest charms, however, lies in their 

 throat markings, the spots and olotohes of 

 deep purple and maroon rendering them 

 very beautiful. It is well to eow seeds in a 

 cold frame early in the summer, and after- 

 wards to transplant them to their perma- 

 nent quarters. Many of the cultivated 

 forms obtainable are very charming, and 

 some lovely colours can be had from a 

 packet of seed. After t^e main flower-spike 

 has done flowering, it should be cut off, 

 as this will encourage the side shoots to 

 ittake more growth and produ.-e a gwA dis- 

 play of bloom later on. J. Gardneb. 



a 



Cereus fiasrelllf ormis. — In « 



of a local dairy there is a fine plant 

 oi this old-fashioned ratVtail cactus, which 

 Js growing in a suspended pot. The branches 

 nang down for a considerable distance, and 

 are studded with beautiful rose-coloured blos- 

 ^^B. This used to be a favourite plant in 

 cottager s windows, but I do not think it is 

 «aet with as much now <is formerly.— S. W. 



it is obvious that a broader base for the 

 future hedge prevails from the start, and, 

 providing the after-treatment is carried 

 out timeously and judiciously, I can see no 

 reason why the pHnts should not retain 

 their lowermost shoots equally as well as 

 others placed in single line. That a single 

 line of plants, under proper after-treat- 

 ment, could be made to answer every 

 purpose, and eventually form a dense and, 

 for larger animals, au impenetrable harrier, 

 I entertain no doubt. On this estate, both 

 systems have long been practised, and other 

 things being equal, there is but a very 

 slight margin for choice between them. 



*'E. JM.^' admits that a hedge can be 

 formed more quickly by means of double 

 lines of plants. This, I consider, the best 

 argument in favour of the system, as 

 rapidity in arriving at a serviceable state 

 is, in this case, of very great importance, 

 il may state that my experience and re- 

 marks relate principally to results in Scot- 

 land, where climatic and soil conditions may 

 not be so conducive to growth and rigidity 

 as is the case in the sunny south. Here, 



fair order, thus avoiding secondary expense, 

 it must be considered good economy in es- 

 tate management, and also shows an advan- 

 tage over the single row system of planting. 



'*E. M.'* concludes by referring to \he 

 common faults in the care of hedges in 

 general, particularly that of allowing 

 almost unrestricted growth in their earlier 

 stages. With this I quite agree, and would 

 endeavour to impress upon the mind and 

 consideration of the person responsible the 

 necessity of severely checking the progi ess 

 of the upper growths until a substantial base 

 is formed, after which freer extension may 

 be allowed, until the requisite height 'inJ 

 form is attained. Coupled with this may be 

 given the equally important advice to keep 

 the hedge-row clear of weeds and rank 

 grasses for at least two seasons after plant- 

 ing. This is a matter which seems much 

 neglected at the present time, but it is one 

 which, if consistently carried out, exercises 

 a great influence for good upon the sta- 

 bility and appearance of the hedge or 

 hedges. James Day. 



Garlieston, Scotland. 



