SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
191 
one to two hundred bushels to the acre. Tlie beetle de 
stroys our hickory trees ; the elaphifiion our oaks ; the 
canker worm our elms; the hyloi>ins our pirte trees In 
13 days last Aui;u>t, 31 workman destroyed, in a vine 
yard, 41,000,000 of the eg^s ofa small and very destructive 
moth, which would have hatched in sixteen days thereafter, 
and miijhtifleft uridi.sturbed, have produced three or (bur 
more generations the same season to be noun hed by the 
vitte I have seen flies depost their eggs on the living body 
of a caterpillar. 
Lumousts said that three or four flies will devour 
an f.'x in as short a time as several lions, by each 
producing 30,000 maggots I am opposed to the destruc- 
tion of neetles, with one exception, l)ecause they consume 
an immense amount of decomposing vegetable matter 
which, Imtfor them, would destroy the salubrity of the air 
we breathe. 
I cherish wasps ; they put an end to the existence of 
countless thousands of spiders and similar insects. The 
tiger beetle should on no account be destroyed ; he is the 
enemy of all other insects, and kills them indiscriminately 
Hornets, dragon-flies and ants should be protected, or the 
land would be over-run with otlier insects. 
I have often heard it said a cold winter destroys insects. 
I thought so until last spring, when I examined the chrys- 
alids of many insects that, had withstood in exposed situ- 
ations the preceding intense winter. 1 invariably found 
them full of life, though the thermometer had frequently 
been below’ zero. From whence do they obtain the ne- 
cessary temperature to support life 4 Would not com- 
plete solidification of the fluids necessarily produce 
death I” 
In reference to this matter, a member observed that we 
know not the absolute amount of heat necessary to sup- 
port vitality, and that insects had revivified after tl.ree 
years, that had been brought from the Cape of Good Hope 
perfectly dried and with a pin stuck through them. 
OllNAMENTAI. EDGINGS AND HEDGES, FDK 
The Soalli. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Permit me to say a 
tew words in regard to ourgardens and front yards. How 
sfif? and tasteless if looks to see a small piece of land cut 
up in all imaginable and unimaginable mathematical and 
fantastical figures lined with' planks or masonry. The 
beds are also thrown up high and dry, while the paths are 
as narrow as if made for the perambulation of chickens 
only. How often have I exclaimed “ Dutchman's work.” 
Planks and bricks were unquestionably introduced in 
olden times, when it was difficult to obtain a more tasteful 
article for edging our flow'er gardens. Now, however, 
suitable plants for edgings or ornamental hedges can be had 
in abundance, and consequently the planks and bricks 
must soon disappear. 
The first step in arranging a garden is the thorough 
preparation cf the soil. But how is it done in nine cases 
out of ten 1 An old crippled negro, unfit for any other 
work, is put to scratching the ground with a hoe, and in 
order to give this work a more honorable name, it is called 
digging. How’ can it be expected that any thing can 
grow by such wmrk I and stdl the owner is always utter- 
ing f»rih his comfilaints against the nurseryman or seeds- 
man because the plants will not thrive. No, throw aside 
4he hrie and get a good spade^^wox]^ the soil at least twelve 
inches deep, t though twenty inches is better) pulverize it 
IhnrougMiy, and work in some tnanure, then lay off the 
Walks. The main paths should alw'ays be w'lde ennough 
for three persons to walk abreast, while the side paths 
will answer if two persons can walk abreast. When this 
done, proceed to plant the edges of the flower beds wdth 
suitable plants. The beauty of such an edging consists 
of its being as thin as possible and never more than six 
inches high, and whenever needed, should be kept in the 
proper shape by frequent trimming with a hedge sheers. 
I will here enumerate a few of such plants as answer 
well for this purpose: 
Bar%s Siiffi'Mcosa, (Dwarf box) is known to every 
body, and makes an excellent bordering, but requires 
strong clay soil; in fact, it is useless to expect it to do 
well in sandy land, unless it has a strong clay subsoil. 
Potcrium Savg-uisorba, (Burnet) — As vve are often 
blessed with ridiculous common names, I would mention 
that this nlant is often called “ Watermelon Geranium." 
It is a low perennial plant, with a close foliage resembling 
the leaves of a rose bush, though much smaller, k thiives 
finely in sandy soil, and produces a very neat bordering the 
first summer from the seed. In order to look nice, it should 
notbe suffered to run to seed, but the flower stems must be 
cut down whenever they appear. 
Rosa Lawrcnciana (Picayune i?ose) — makes a very 
close and neat edging, which, however, needs frequent 
trimming. It should principaly be employed for borders 
at the main walks. 
R ismaricus Ojtrinalis (Rosemary) — Few plants form 
a more suitable edging on sandy sod, to vvliich it is per- 
fectly adapted. It wdl not need trimming more than once 
or twice a year. A well kept little hedge cf Rosemary- 
in my garden was for many years the object of great ad- 
miration to all visitors. 
Santilcna- Cham.a,zupa,rissus (Cotoii Lavender, or 
Fringed Rosemary) is a small evergreen shrub of very- 
slender growth. The foliage is very delicate, though not 
of a pleasing color, it being more gray than green. It is 
excellent for edging borders and can be kept very thin, 
not more than an inch thick, but requires fnquent trim- 
ming. Few plants will thrive better in poor sandy soil 
than this. 
A good many more could be enumerated, but the above 
are tlie most suitable. 
I will now proceed to mention such shrubs as can be 
recommended for larger ornamental hedges; 
Cvdonia, J aponica or PiirusJapnnico- (Japan Quince) — 
Though a deciduous shrub, nothing can be more strikingly 
ornamesttai than a hedge of this kind during its season of 
biooming. It was in the garden of the “London Horti- 
cultural Society,” that 1, for the first time, saw such a hedge 
in full bloom, and nothing could look nrore like a sheet of 
fire. Its quality of blooming very early in the season (in 
March) when the garden is rather dreary-looking, 
makes it so much more desirable. Besides, it will an- 
swer perfectly’ for an outside hedge, as, when properly 
kept, it is very protective Such a hedge mdy easily be 
trained from three to four feet liigh. 
Eu.onvvms japonica. — This shrub, rather too tender for 
the North, will unquestionably before long become one of 
the most desirable plants for a Soulliern ornamrnial hedge. 
I As yet, it is only seen in solitary specimens as a bush, but 
j whenever propagated in abundance, its dmse compact 
foriTi, beautiful tiiossy green color, and its qotiliiy of tliri- 
viiig well in any soil, will soon make it indespensaide in 
eveiy Southern garden It needs but very little trimming, 
as its natural ((irrn is somewhat taperinij, •nd it wdi, if 
de.>ired, form ahedge or screen. t( n feet high. For tlie lat- 
ter purpO'C, the plants may beset two feel apart; /or small- 
er hedges one foot apart. 
Gardenia Florida Jasmine) — We have a great, 
advantage over Noith‘’n gardens in lieing able to grow 
this be lUjifui shrub in perteciion. When propprly cultb 
uvaied and trained it forms a most beaiuiful hedge, but 
