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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
preferable,  the  growths  being  carefully  tied  on.  No  farther 
training  will  be  necessary  while  making  their  growth,  allowing 
them  plenty  of  light  and  space  to  encourage  strong,  sturdy,  and 
well-ripened  shoots.  As  soon  as  they  commence  to  show  flowers 
their  training  must  be  taken  in  hand,  which  should  be  done  very 
carefully  and  periodically,  being  so  arranged,  that  when  the 
flowers  are  fully  expanded  they  will  show  to  the  best  advantage  in 
the  position  allotted  to  them. 
Old  plants  will  not  require  larger  shifts  every  year,  but  after 
being  well  cut  back  to  about  three  eyes  of  the  old  wood  and  started 
into  fresh  growth  in  the  spring,  they  can  be  taken  from  their  pots, 
and  some  of  the  old  ball  reduced  with  a  pointed  stick.  Their 
drainage  must  be  newly  arranged,  returning  them  to  the  same  sized 
pot  as  before.  When  well  into  active  growth  they  will  require 
some  stimulant,  either  in  the  shape  of  liquid  manure  or  top  dressings 
with  chemical  manure. 
Allamandas  require  but  little  shading,  only  just  sufficient  to 
keep  their  foliage  from  scorching  during  July  and  the  beginning 
of  August.  Another  great  point  in  their  successful  cultivation  is 
cleanliness,  which  in  fact  applies  to  all  plant  life,  and  unless  carried 
oat  thoroughly  and  effectually  it  i3  impossible  to  procure  them  in 
good  condition  at  any  period.  Allamandas  are  not  so  subject  to 
insect  pests  as  are  many  of  our  stove  plants,  being  most  liable  to 
the  attacks  of  thrips  and  red  spider,  both  of  which  can  be  kept  in 
eheck  should  they  appear,  the  former  by  fumigation  with  tobacco 
paper,  the  latter  by  the  liberal  use  of  the  syringe.  Should  scale  or 
mealy  bug  gain  a  footing,  the  bug  can  be  washed  off  with  soft 
water  and  petroleum,  using  a  wineglassful  of  the  latter  to  four 
gallons  of  water,  thoroughly  mixing  it  before  applying  it  to  the 
plants.  Scale  should  be  picked  off  by  hand.  The  cultivator  must 
always  keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  all  such  pests  when  attending  to 
the  daily  wants  of  these  plants,  and  should  any  be  perceived  their 
destructi  m  should  at  once  be  attended  to. 
There  are  several  well-known  Allamandas,  and  mo3t  of  them 
are  worthy  of  cultivation,  the  best,  in  my  opinion,  for  the  purposes 
above  described,  being  A.  Hendersoni,  A.  Cheleoni,  A.  nobilis, 
and  A  grandiflora. — F.  J. 
ORNAMENTAL  HEDGES. 
In  some  old  gardens — those  delightful  old-fashioned  gardens — 
evergreen  hedges  are  a  pleasing  feature,  serving  as  a  break  to  the 
somewhat  monotonous  aspect  the  walled-in  garden  is  apt  to  wear 
during  the  winter.  Not  only  for  appearance  sake  is  the  subject 
worthy  of  consideration,  for  their  utility  in  lessening  the  force  of 
chilling  winds  is  apparent  when  the  extent  of  the  garden  is 
measured  by  acres.  As  a  screen,  also,  to  the  frame  ground  or  other 
indispensable  though  maybe  unpicturesque  adjunct  to  a  garden 
we  may,  by  this  means,  form  sunny  nooks,  which  for  three  parts 
of  the  year  are  havens  of  shelter  as  well  as  a  place  for  performing 
unobstrusiveJy  the  rougher  work  connected  with  the  potting  shed 
or  houses.  In  this  case  our  hedge  will  under  most  circumstances 
take  the  formation  of  three  sides  of  square. 
The  one  plant  which  is  pre-eminently  adapted  for  the  purpose 
is  the  English  Yew.  Its  amenity  to  being  kept  within  desired 
bounds  when  having  attained  them  makes  it,  I  think,  unrivalled  for 
the  purpose,  for  the  annual  close-shearing  appears  to  be  neither 
inimical  to  health  nor  prejudicial  to  its  notorious  longevity.  Hence, 
for  permanency,  and  by  its  adaptability  to  the  varied  conditions  of 
our  soil  and  climate,  it  will  rarely,  if  ever,  disappoint  those  who  want 
this  work  to  be  as  enduring  as  a  well-built  wall.  Its  comparatively 
sombre  hue  with,  perhaps,  its  formality  detract  in  some  eyes  from 
the  sterling  qualities  enumerated.  The  employment  of  the 
golden  form,  T.  aurea,  for  this  purpose  would  remove  one 
objection  if  expense  and  the  sentiment  of  restricting  the  natural 
growth  of  so  beautiful  a  shrub  could  be  overcome.  As  this  and 
other  varieties  are  readily  grafted,  some  thought  may  be  given 
to  this  in  future  planting. 
In  keeping  a  Yew  hedge,  when  the  desired  height  and  width 
have  been  accomplished,  few  who  have  used  the  clipping  machine, 
made  on  the  principle  of  the  horse  clipper,  will  again  resort  to 
the  old-fashioned  shears.  If  there  is  one  thing  to  which  this 
machine  is  par  excellence  adapted  that  is  a  Yew  hedge,  and  for  neat 
and  expeditious  work  it  is,  in  this  case,  unsurpassed. 
For  appearance  sake,  and  as  presenting  less  formality  of  outline, 
a  flat  top  is  generally  preferred  ;  but  with  an  old  hedge,  dense  and 
broad,  heavy  falls  of  snow  are  apt  to  cause  some  trouble  by  a 
spreading  or  bulging  of  the  top.  This  is  in  a  great  measure  over¬ 
come  if  a  span-roofed  or  smartly  rounded  top  is  adopted.  One 
other  consideration  of  the  Yew  as  a  hedge  which  must  not  be 
overlooked  is  the  vigorous  root  action  which  may,  according  to 
position,  require  some  occasional  curtailment ;  otherwise  plantings 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  may  be  considerably  impoverished. 
February  27,  1896. 
Periodic  opening  of  a  trench  on  each  side,  some  3  or  4  feet  from 
the  stems,  will  keep  this  evil  in  abeyance,  and  without  being 
inimical  to  the  health  of  the  hedge  will  as  well  check  any  disposition 
to  grossness. 
Cupressus  Lawsoniana  is  not  so  frequently  used  as  an  ornamental 
hedge  plant  as  its  merits  deserve.  Most  who  have  seen  it  thus 
grown  will,  probably,  accord  to  it  the  premier  position  for  elegance 
of  outline  and  cheerful  tone  of  colour,  provided  that  its  character 
is  not  sacrificed  to  clipping.  Unless  the  locality  is  specially  favoured 
by  a  well  drained,  porous  soil,  this  Cypress  appears  to  enjoy  being 
lifted  a  little  above  the  level  of  its  surroundings  ;  therefore,  in 
planting  under  these  conditions  it  is  advisable  to  throw  up  a  low 
bank  as  a  basis  for  planting,  and  any  contributions  of  old  potting 
soil  or  decayed  manure  will  be  of  distinct  advantage.  Much  of 
the  beautv  of  a  hedge  of  this  description  will  be  lost  if  confined  to 
less  than  6  feet  in  height  ;  and  it  may  well  be  allowed  to  grow  several 
feet  higher  if  the  position  admit  of  it.  But  little  attention  is 
necessary  in  keeping.  A  biennial  trimming  with  the  pruning 
knife,  with  the  use  of  the  lopping  shears  to  take  out  the  strongest 
leaders,  being  sufficient  corrective. 
If  large  plants  of  the  Cupressus  are  chosen  for  planting,  a  stake 
placed  diagonally  on  the  sheltered  side  and  secured  by  a  band 
of  rope  half  way  up  the  stem,  will  insure  their  stability  until 
established.  Should  the  locality  be  one  in  which  high  winds  prevail 
light  poles  forming  a  continuous  rail  through  the  whole  length  of 
the  hedge,  each  plant  being  secured  to  it,  will  form  a  bond  of 
strength  individually  and  collectively.  From  a  similar  hedge  I 
have,  duiing  the  festive  season,  cut  quantities  of  feathery  sprays  as 
a  help  to  decorative  work  ;  whereas  any  similar  contributions  from 
specimens  is  out  of  the  question.  The  beauty  of  this  hedge 
reaches  its  climax  in  early  spring  when  crimson-tipped  with  the 
male  inflorescence. 
Next  amongst  the  evergreens,  and  perhaps  most  generally  used, 
is  the  common  Laurel,  and  if  permanency  is  to  be  considered,  in 
my  experience  the  least  satisfactory.  I  have  had  to  deal  with 
examples  planted  en  bloc  each  side  of  a  garden  entrance,  and  also 
in  the  hedge-form  acting  as  a  screen  to  the  potting  shed  and  similar 
offices.  In  the  endeavour  to  keep  them  presentable  after  attaining 
a  certain  age  it  has  been  a  matter  of  unqualified  regret  that  such 
was  ever  used  for  the  purpose.  No  sooner  will  the  Laurel  have 
accomplished  the  desired  object  than  it  begins  to  die  away,  leaving 
unsightly  gaps  from  the  base  upwards.  Possibly  under  some  con¬ 
ditions  it  may  behave  better,  but  I  should  be  loth  to  adopt  it  for 
this  purpose  and  initiate  future  troubles  for  others. 
Near  the  sea  Escallonia  macrantha  makes  a  charming  hedge,  but 
from  its  more  prostrate  habit  is  disposed  to  form  breadth  more  than 
height.  Obviously  the  tying-in  of  straggling  shoots,  with  a  little 
balancing  from  the  pruning  knife,  is  all  the  correction  one  can  or 
would  care  to  give  this  beautiful  shrub.  Osmanthus  ilicifolius  is 
suitable  for  the  purpose,  and  is  a  good  substitute  for  the  Holly  in 
positions  where  the  latter  would  be  too  bold  to  introduce. 
Desfontainea  spinosa  is,  I  fear,  only  to  be  mentioned  by  name,  so 
few  are  the  places  where  this  charming  shrub  is  likely  to  succeed, 
but  where  Griselina  littoralis  is  found  to  thrive  its  unique  colouring 
and  pleasing  habit  should  be  sufficient  reason  for  its  inclusion 
amongst  high-class  shrubs,  suggesting  their  fitness  to  the  purpose. 
On  a  free  shallow  soil  superimposed  upon  the  granite,  and  within 
the  influence  of  the  sea,  it  is  of  vigorous  growth.  Under  these 
conditions  I  have  noticed  it  pass  unscathed  through  abnormal 
severity,  when  the  common  and  Colchic  Laarels  have  been  reduced 
to  an  eyesore. 
For  boldness  of  effect  and  general  good  qualities  the  Holly 
takes  a  high  place,  f%or  a  thriving  Holly  hedge  is  a  pleasing  object 
at  all  seasons  if  sufficient  room  obtains  for  its  development. 
Necessarily  that  will  not,  as  a  rule,  be  in  the  garden.  This  must 
also  be  regarded  for  its  utility  as  a  fence.  The  grand  old  Holly 
hedge  at  Keele  Hall  in  Staffordshire  is  a  notable  example  of  its 
kind.  I  can  only  imagine  what  a  hedge  of  the  Golden  Queen 
variety  would  be  in  effect  (there  are,  I  believe,  such  examples 
existing),  but  among  the  many  and  hardier  fine  forms  there  are 
doubtless  several  which  commend  themselves  to  the  purpose,  and 
would  yield  more  refinement  than  the  commoner  varieties. 
Amongst  deciduous  plants  used,  or  suitable  for  use,  as  hedges 
there  is  a  wider  scope  for  selection,  but  as  their  ornamental 
character  is  practically  limited  to  the  season  in  which  their  want 
is  least  felt,  but  one  or  two  examples  need  be  included  here. 
Seedling  Oaks  readily  adapt  themselves  to  the  trimming  and 
training  necessary  to  constitute  a  perfect  dwarf  hedge,  and  can  be 
kept  in  good  form  for  an  almost  indefinite  time.  An  illustration 
of  this  is  afforded  in  the  bolder  portion  of  the  Italian  gardens  at 
Trentham,  designed  by  Sir  Charles  Barry.  These  dwarf  Oak 
hedges  are  a  pleasing  and  uncommon  feature  in  this  style  of 
gardening. 
Beech  hedges  some  10  to  12  feet  high,  and  not  more  than 
