If
clipped when the sap is rising it puts on leaves which last all the
winter. From top to bottom the wall of russet shines warm and bright. Its
leaves are harmless in decay, for they contain an antiseptic oil, and no
leaves of spring are more tenderly green or in more ceaseless motion at
the lightest breeze. Privet makes the last and least esteemed of these
"one-tree" hedges. Yet it is the most tractable of all hedge material, and
was almost invariably used to form the intricate "mazes," once a favourite
toy of the layers-out of stately gardens.
Keeping these hedges in good repair and properly clipped and trimmed is
one of the minor difficulties of the country. In large gardens there are
always one or two professional gardeners who understand the topiary art.
But it often happens that a quite modest garden possesses a splendid hedge
of yew or box, the pride of the place, which needs attention once or twice
every year. These hedges have frequently been clipped by the same man,
some old resident in the village, for thirty or forty years. Clipping that
hedge is part of his regular extra earnings to which he looks forward, and
a source of credit and renown to him in his circle.
Pages:
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188