Gardening Notes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2593, 9 May 1887, Page 2

Gardening Notes.

In answer to Subscriber in Friday's issue Very much will depend upon the situation and locality. If by the sea, where your live fence would be subjected to sea spray and sandy soil, then sea buckthorns (Hyphoph® Rhamnoides) would certainly bo best, But if for ordinary purposes around Masterton, the African Boxthorne (Lyciura liorridum) is decidedly the most suitable, embodying as it does all your requirements; it makes a most impenetrable fence against cattle and horses, and is one of the best safeguards to the orchard or garden against the depredations of the young of the genus homo. It is not costly, it is catalogued at 12s Gd to £1 per 1000. It grows well when properly planted, and it is in all respects a good and easily trimmed fence.

Holly ( Ilex Aquifolium) in some instances makes a good fence, but it can hardly be considered the hedge plant, par excellence for this district; moreover, it is a long time growing into use and requires a lot of protection. The Osage Orange is a beautiful glabrous loafed plant and is gaiuing favor whereyer planted, but,it is rather costly, being about £2 Ids per 1000, and is liable to be topped by cattle wheh other food is scarce. Other hedge-plajits suitable for gardens or pleasure gfounds are Gupressus Macrocarpa, Arba Vita) and Privet.' Under no circumstances whatever' should the Hawthorne

(Crataegus) be planted, as it harbours that most detestablo pest, the cherry slug or Pear Saw Fly (Eriocmpa Adumkata-) Preparation of the ml for planting , hedges requires care, if this be not, cleared of weeds before the thorns are ■ planted, it will be almost impossible \ to do so afterwards. If possible the ground should be trenched 18 inche3 deep and three .'feet in breadth, the surface soil in the bottom of the. trench; tliig .will he found an excellent way of getting rid of weeds, The expense attending'a thorough preparation of the soil, will be amply repaid by having a clean and wellgrowing hedge, which is a great orna-. • ment to any property.