AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
133 
thank us for the advice, which they had fol¬ 
lowed, and others will do so this Summer, if 
the drouth does come, and if it does not, they 
will not find the crop to come amiss under 
any circumstances. 
Those who fail to get in their usual Spring 
crops, will remember that turnips can be 
sown for six weeks yet, and this is a crop 
not to be despised or forgotten. We shall 
have more to say of it in our next number. 
SPAKE THE CALVES. 
To-day, May 20, beef cattle are selling in 
this city at higher prices per head than 
horses ; at least, poor cattle are going for a 
hundred dollars per head and more, and 
poor horses will not bring that. We have 
seen s.tles to-day of plenty of good cattle at 
$120 to $130, and from that to $150 each, 
and other sales have been made at higher 
rates still. Now these prices are not the 
effort of combination or speculation. There 
are not cattle enough in the country, young 
or old, to meet the demand. Pray don’t sell 
any more calves for veal, at $2 50 a head, 
nor double that price. Calculate the com¬ 
parative cost of raising a calf and a colt, and 
act accordingly. 
MANAGEMENT 0E HEDGES. 
In a recent number we gave some account 
of the best plants used for hedges. We now 
add a few remarks on growing and mana¬ 
ging them. 
The line of the fence having been deter¬ 
mined on, mark off a space four feet wide, 
and if on a field give it a thorough plowing, 
if in smaller grounds trench it. Most plants 
will live in any ordinary soil, but if one wish¬ 
es to form a rapid-growing and vigorous 
hedge, the ground should be manured. And 
in doing this care should be taken to make it 
of uniform richness throughout its whole 
extent, otherwise the hedge will not grow 
up in uniform hight and vigor'. Let the soil 
be carefully examined all along the line, and 
the cold and wet, or dry and barren spots, 
be brought into a good condition. 
Most of the plants of which we have 
spoken, can be grown from the seed, either 
on the spot they are to occupy, or in the 
garden or nursery, and then transplanted 
when one year old. They should be sown 
like peas, in drills two inches deep. But 
where time is of any account, it is better to 
buy yearling plants from the nurserymen ; 
they can be purchased at about $5 or $6 a 
thousand plants. Before setting them they 
should be assorted, planting on any particu¬ 
lar line those only of uniform size and health. 
The tops, also, should be shortened, so that 
when planted chey will rise only two or three 
inches above ground. Double rows are oft¬ 
en planted in alternate lines; this makes 
certain of a strong barrier; but it is thought 
by many that a single row, well cared for, 
answers every purpose. Set out the plants 
by a line, six inches apart in the row. Keep 
the ground well hoed for the first two or 
three years, and if a little manure is worked 
in every year it will not be labor or manure 
thrown away. 
The most important thing in the manage¬ 
ment of a hedge is its pruning. Most men 
are impatient to see their hedges get up to 
the required hight. During the first two 
years, especially, the plants look small, and 
when the time of pruning comes, most per¬ 
sons can’t bear to cut them down, as hedge 
law requires. The consequence is, that the 
plants shoot up tall and thin, and so far as 
making a hedge is concerned, they are al¬ 
most worthless. A writer in one of our 
Western agricultural papers, recently stated, 
as the result of his extensive observation, 
that full one half of the numerous hedges 
throughout the West are nearly useless as 
hedges, and that from the very cause of 
which we have just spoken. A hedge is 
comparatively worthless if it does not have a 
good bottom , and that is obtained, if ever, dur¬ 
ing the first two years of its growth. We 
therefore call especial attention to this. The 
treatment should be as follows : The first 
year after planting, head it back to within 
one foot of the ground; the next year to 
eighteen inches, and the next to two feet 
and a half, adding only one foot’s growth 
each year, until the desired hight is 
reached. The sides should also be sheared 
six or eight inches annually, and the whole 
hedge kept in a conical shape. When fully 
grown, it should be trimmed twice a year, 
say in June and October. A hedge so grown, 
will be well grown, and will afford much 
satisfaction. 
DESIRABLE HARDY SHRUBS. 
Having lately given some directions for 
the planting of shrubbery, we now add a list 
of some of the best sorts of deciduous (leaf- 
shedding), which will grow with ordinary 
care in any common garden soil. It should 
be premised, however, that all shrubs, to 
succeed well, must be set in good earth, and 
occasionally manured and dug about after¬ 
wards, to keep down weeds. If planted in 
exposed situations, they need tying to a 
stake the first year, to keep them erect: 
they should also be pruned a little, from 
year to year, to remove dead branches and 
those of awkward growth. 
In making a collection of shrubs, it is not 
advisable to search for novelties, to the ne¬ 
glect of old sorts. As a general rule, the 
old are better than the new. They have 
held their place in gardens from one genera¬ 
tion of men to another, because of their in¬ 
trinsic excellence. And then, the wealth of 
charming associations which they possess is 
enough to endear them to every heart. 
Hold on, then, to the old: make them the 
staple of your collection, adding the new 
only after they have been well tried and ap¬ 
proved. 
SHRUBS FROM TWO TO FOUR FEET HIGH. 
Mezereon (Flowers in April).—This little 
bush sends out its bright pink flowers almost 
as early as the Snowdrop and Crocus. In¬ 
deed, as we now write (near Utica, N. Y., 
April 10th), we look out upon a bed of 
blooming Crocuses, and near by is a bush of 
the Mezereon, whose swelling pink flower- 
buds are plainly discernible. And, to com¬ 
plete our picture, within a few rods are huge 
snow-banks ! The flowers of the Mezereon 
are fragrant, and appear scattered along the 
branches before the leaves unfold. They 
are succeeded by berries which are said to 
be poisonous. There is a variety with white 
flowers, and another which blooms in Au 
tumn. This plant thrives best in a mode¬ 
rately dry soil, and should be transplanted 
in the Fall. For northern latitudes espe¬ 
cially, where the season of flowers is so 
short, it is a very desirable shrub. 
Prune-leaved Spiraea (May).—While the 
Mezereon is an old-fashioned plant, this is, 
comparatively, a new comer. Yet we have 
known it long enough to like it well. It is a 
China-man. Its leaves are small, branches 
slender, flowers small but pure white and 
double, resembling miniature roses. It 
should have a place in the smallest collec¬ 
tion. 
Reeve's Spiraea (June).—With some, this 
is no less desirable than the last men¬ 
tioned. Its flowers are not double, and here 
it requires a little protection in Winter. 
Bending the tops to the ground, and throw¬ 
ing over them a few shovelsful of earth, is 
all the care it requires. Its leaves are dark 
green, flowers of sunny whiteness, formed 
in clusters. Its branches have a very grace¬ 
ful, drooping habit, which will attract the 
eye of every amateur. Propagated by lay¬ 
ers and cuttings. 
Douglass' Spiraea (June to September).— 
This is a recent addition to the large family 
of Spirseas, and it is welcome, deserving 
an honorable place. Its flowers are plum¬ 
shaped, about the size of a lady’s finger, 
rose-colored, fragrant, and are produced in 
succession nearly all Summer—a valuable 
and uncommon trait in a shrub. 
Graceful Deutzia. -A charming little 
shrub, with modest white flowers scattered 
profusely along the branches. Perfectly 
hardy. The smallest garden should have it. 
Weigelia (May).—There are two varieties 
of this plant ( Rosea and Amabilis), the one 
having pink blossoms, the other while. 
Both are desirable acquisitions. Leaves 
broad like the syringa, flowers funnel- 
shaped, two inches long. Amabilis often 
blooms twice in a season. Both propagated 
by layers or cuttings. 
Peter's Wreath (May).—Here is hardiness 
enough for anybody, and beauty thrown in. 
Foliage delicate, flowers ditto, white as 
snow, and formed in wreaths along the 
branches. As it blossoms early, before all 
remembrance of Winter has passed away, it 
often appears when in flower as if a light 
fall of snow had just been deposited upon it. 
Japan Quince (April).—A first-rate, early 
flowering shrub. One variety has fiery red 
blossoms, often called in England, “ Fairies’ 
Fire,” and another has blush-colored flow¬ 
ers-like those of the apple tree. The first- 
named is the most striking, foliage dark 
green, always glossy and fresh, and its 
blossoms, when the sun shines upon them, 
resemble coals of fire. 
Persian Lilacs (May and June).—These 
are the city cousins of the old-fashioned 
white and purple Lilacs. The last-named 
