208 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
April, 1917 
30 & 32 Barclay Street New York 
The 
GARDEN MAGAZINE 
READERS' SERVICE 
For direct personal service to the individual reader • | 
Ask you r questions. 
Trimming Privet Hedges and Flowering Shrubs 
Should a California Privet hedge be trim- 
med flat on top or rounded? What is used as 
a guide for the trimmer to enable him to keep 
the hedge straight? How should flowering 
shrubs be trimmed? — E. J. C., Mich. 
— Privet hedges can be trimmed either way, 
flat or round topped. It is merely a matter of 
personal preference, but where there is much 
snow in winter it is better to trim the hedge 
with a round top as it reduces to some extent 
the danger of breakage by snow. A good 
hedge trimmer simply uses his eye as a guide. 
Occasionally you will see a man use a line but 
this is because he does not seem sure of him- 
self. There is one invariable rule about 
pruning: Prune if at all, immediately after the 
plant ‘hrough flowering. Pruning, merely 
for the sake of cutting back, is wrong. Cut 
out at the base all the old wood that has 
flowered. By doing this you encourage the 
plant to put vigor into the new growth. 
French Doors Instead of Draperies 
— Would it be proper to place French doors in 
place of draperies in the doorways between the 
living room hall, and the library, dining room 
and sun room? If so, what style would be the 
most appropriate and would it be necessary to 
make transoms over the doors? — W. M., New 
York. 
— There is no doubt that the substitution of 
French doors for hangings would improve the 
living room and open up the whole first floor 
very nicely. As to style, these had better be 
the straight rectangular, small-paned type, 
two doors to each opening, hinged to open out 
upon the living hall. We would not use tran- 
soms over these doors, but would have the 
doors the same height as others in the room, 
closing the space over the head t,o the ceiling 
as a plaster wall. In the opening to the sun 
room, being twelve feet wide, I would take out 
the grill work and make this a plastered wall 
over the top of two pairs of French doors; or 
there might be two stationary glazed panels to 
match the doors and two doors in the centre. 
Cheap Farm Land 
Are there any #io an acre farms for sale? I 
have been successful in raising hens in my back 
yard and, while I have only a very limited 
capital, I want to buy a cheap farm and start 
in the poultry business. — H. D. M., Iowa. 
— There are probably farms to be bought as 
low as $io per acre in several parts of the 
country, but the chances are that these are of 
such a type and in such a condition that they 
will call for expert knowledge and extremely 
hard work if they are to be successfully culti- 
vated. We would not want to attempt to 
suggest any particular farm but you can obtain 
descriptions of a good many by writing for in- 
formation and assistance to the State Depart- 
ments of Agriculture of New York at Albany; 
Massachusetts at Boston; Rhode Island at 
Providence; of Pennsylvania at Harrisburg; 
Virginia at Richmond; Ohio at Columbus, and 
New Hampshire at Concord. Some of the 
railroads such as the New York Central at 
Grand Central Terminal Building, New York 
City, and the New England Lines, with offices 
at Boston, can also supply descriptive literature 
about lands along their lines. 
Dahlia Novelties 
B of exceptional character, at exceptionally 
p moderate prices were the subject of our ad- H 
j| vertisement on page 77 of the March issue of 
J 9 The Garden Magazine. Please refer again to 
1 that page and its unusual “Special Collection jj 
§| Offer.” JV rite for Free Catalogue. 
LONG ISLAND DAHLIA GARDENS 
HICKSVILLE, L. I., NEW YORK 
E-Clipse-All Self-Sharpening Lawn Mower Plates Will 
Keep Your Lawn Mower Sharp Automatically 
Easily attached and requires NO attention. Write for Descriptive 
Circular, special price if you mention this Magazine. 
CROWN SUPPLY COMPANY, Boston, Massachusetts 
Nut Trees 
My hardy Pennsylvania 
Grown Budded and Grafted 
trees are the best for eastern 
and northern planting. 
Handsome catalogue and 
cultural guide free. 
J. F. JONES, The Nut Tree Specialist 
LANCASTER Box G PENNSYLVANIA 
^IROSES 
Dingee roses are always grown on their own roots 
— and are absolutely the best for the amateur planter. 
Send to-day for our 
“New Guide to Rose Culture” tor 1917 
— it's free. It isn’t a catalog — it's a practical work on rose 
growing. Profusely illustrated. Describes over 1000 varieties 
of roses and other flowers, and tells how to grow them. Safe 
delivery guaranteed. Established 1850. 70 greenhouses. 
THE DINGEE St CONAKD LO., Box 437, West Grove, Pa. 
~ro 
GALVANIZED IRON 
PERMAN ENT 
MARKING ’ 
SAMPLE FREE 
LORD MFC. CO. 102 W.40-ST.. N.Y 
• The Readers’ Service is prepared to help you solve your gardening problems 
