^VfARdH.] THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 308 
larly in the middle states; in the other states, it should be planted 
on the spur of the earliest spring vegetation; for although it is an 
evergreen, its taking and growing freely by slips or cuttings, causes 
it to agree with early planting better than those kinds that do not 
easily propagate in that way; and moreover it is very hardy, and sel- 
dom injured by winter frosts. 
To make neat edgings, you should get some short bushy box, and 
let it be slipped or parted into moderately small slips, of not more 
than from eight to ten inches long; if any of them have roots or 
fibres, the better, but the cuttings or slips will all grow if planted 
early, and kept moderately and occasionally watered. The long 
woody roots of such as have them must be trimmed, and all the 
plants, slips, or cuttings, made pretty much of a length. 
The method of planting is this: stretch your line, if for a straight 
edging, along the edge of the bed or border, let that part be trodden 
lightly and evenly along, to settle it moderately firm, and with the 
spade make it up full and even, according to the line; then on the 
side of the line next the walk, let a small neat trench be cut out 
about six inches deep, making the side next the line perfectly up- 
right, turning the earth out towards the walk or alley. 
The box is to be planted in this trench close against the upright 
side next the line, placing the plants so near together as to form 
immediately a close compact edging, without being too thick and 
clumsy, and with the top of the plants as even as possible, all an 
equal height, not more than an inch or two above the surface of the 
ground; and as you proceed in planting, draw the earth up to the 
outside of the plants, which fixes them in their due position; and 
when you have planted the row out, then with your spade cast in the 
earth almost to the top of the plants, and tread it neatly and closely 
thereto: when the edging is planted, let any inequalities of the top 
be cut as even and neat as possible, with a pair of shears. 
Where there are any gaps in the former planted edgings, let 
them now be made good; for when ragged and uneven they have a 
disagreeable appearance. 
Or where any old edgings of several years standing have been per- 
mitted to run up rude and spreading, nothing in a garden looks 
more unsightly; and should be taken up, slipped, trimmed, and re- 
planted in a neat regular order. 
For an account of the various plants generally used for edgings 
and the methods of planting them, see the Flower-Garden next 
month. They may all be planted towards the latter end of this, if 
the weather proves favourable. 
Plant Hedges. 
Finish planting all the kinds of deciduous hedges, as early in the 
month as the weather permits, and if the season proves very favour- 
able, you may in the last week thereof, plant evergreen hedges. For 
the methods of doing which, see the Nursery for this month. 
