540 
GARDENING MEMORANDA FOR DECEMBER. 
closeness and luxuriance not excelled by the 
yew or box. I have always found that it is 
good policy to allow a fence of this description 
to occupy at least two feet in width at bottom, 
the side branches being strong, and a nar- 
rower space being insufficient to allow them 
to develope themselves. Two-year trans- 
planted plants may be placed a foot apart from 
each other ; and if any manure is to be added, 
it must be very well rotted, — all the individuals 
of the Coniferas having an aversion to fresh 
manure. The universal practice, so far as I 
know, is to trim this sort of fence with the 
hedge-shears, — a process which well repays a 
little extra labour. This may be done in the 
month of August or September. The price of 
plants in the nurseries is from 125. to 1 5s, 
per thousand. 
10. The Elder (Samhucus nigra). — In 
all situations which are found too damp for 
the hawthorn, the elder may be planted with 
every prospect of success. It is wrong, Jiow- 
ever, to restrict it, as is generally done, to 
swampy districts. Wherever the soil is 
loosened to the depth of twenty inches, it will 
grow freely. I have seen it flourishing on the 
tops of hills amidst sand, and gravel ; and not 
the least of its services are performed in the 
shape of hedges by the sea-side, where it 
forms an excellent protection to plants which, 
without its shelter, would not grow tliere. In 
trenched soil, cuttings planted towards the 
end of October will answer almost as well as 
rooted plants ; but in untrenched land it is 
advisable to have the latter. For the first 
three years an elder fence should be cut only 
once every season ; but afterwards this may 
be done twice — in June and October, which 
will have the eflFect of inducing it to send out 
thick spray. Plants may be inserted at a foot 
apart from each other, and cuttings at half 
that distance. Two years' transplanted plants 
are sold in the nurseries at 1/. lO.s. per 
thousand. 
11. The Bakberrt (i?e?'&er?s vulgaris). — 
I know of no description of soil in which the 
barberry will not grow. It is true, it dislikes 
bogs saturated with water ; but here it is the 
excess of moisture that oifends it, and not the 
soil. On chalk, peat, and sand, it is an un- 
flinching grower. On loamy lands, with a 
calcareous subsoil, it is one of the best of 
hedge-plants, growing so rapidly, that in the 
course of three years it makes a good sub- 
stantial fence. On the very poorest descrip- 
tion of soils its branches are occasionally 
found decayed ; but strong living shoots in- 
variably supply their place, so that there is 
never found an absolute break in the fencp. 
A prejudice exists against this plant, on 
account of its supposed influence in causing 
blight and mildew ; but it is well known that 
the fungus which infests this tree is an 
^cidium, whilst the blight on corn is an 
Uredo ; so that there is no danger whatever 
in bringing it in contact with wheat-fields. 
It is to be hoped, therefore, that a plant so 
very useful, and triumphing over so many bad 
soils, will be brought into more general culti- 
vation. Though it will well repay every 
attention that can be bestowed in the prepara- 
tion of the soil, manuring, &c. it never 
refuses to grow though indifferently treated. 
The plants should be placed about nine inches 
apart from each other, and trimmed afterwards 
with the hedge-hook. From the natural dense- 
ness and bushiness of its roots, it is by no 
means necessary to use transplanted plants: 
well-grown seedlings, two years old, will 
answer equally well ; and those may be had 
in the nurseries at 10^. per thousand. 
There are a few other plants which might 
be enumerated as fit for hedges ; but my ex- 
perience concerning them is not sufficient to 
warrant my speaking of them in detail. I 
think it is probable that the buckthorn 
{Rhaynnus catharticus), will soon be adopted 
as a fence-tree J but at present, the demand 
being limited to the species as fit for shrub- 
beries only, it would be difficult just now to 
get it in sufficient quantities for the former 
use. 
GARDENING MEMORANDA FOR 
DECEMBER.* 
This month we ought to treat everything as 
if it were a continued October and November. 
All the planting and ground operations that 
are not completed, should be persevered in, 
and no time be lost. The pruning of vines, 
wall trees, and standards, should be done as 
soon as possible, and all that require it be 
nailed fast to their proper places. The re- 
moval of fruit trees may go on. The making 
of new walks, beds, clumps, shrubberies, and 
gardens, must be hastened, and it is perhaps 
the best time of the year to drain where drain- 
ing is necessary or desirable. Ornamental 
water may be formed or altered, excavations 
of lakes ought to be accompanied by the for- 
mation of hills, and if there be bold rock 
work imitated next the water, it aids in the 
general effect of a good landscape. Litter should 
be provided for all the crops, flowers, and 
plants that require it ; half-hardy, or tender 
plants, put out of doors, should be protected 
with mats, tan over their roots, or a complete 
case, according to their nature. In bad weather, 
find work under cover; there are always plants 
* A very elaborate and complete Calendar of Garden- 
ing Operations for December is published in No. 36 of 
the Horticultural Magazine. 
