Stranica 215 [215]
Sa arn el eee KTK JI
Historic sGARDENS OES VIRGINIA
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plants were pulled out by hand, and the soil between rows fre¬
quently worked with a hoe. I commenced by the first week in
April to water the box plants each day, if it did not rain, so that
the ground below the surface never lost its moisture. By the first
part of May they were growing most encouragingly. I wish to
emphasize that the most important thing in growing boxwood from
slips, after they are rooted, is to water them incessantly. I don’t
believe you can use too much water. My boxwood 1s now eigh¬
teen months old, and from six to nine inches high. This November
it will be transplanted to the walks throughout the lawn. Ever
since a visit to beautiful old Brandon several years ago, I have
dreamed of boxwood hedges, and I must have boxwood hedges.
I found the one way I could get them was to grow them, and so I
started in, and all of you practical gardeners know the joy of
watching something grow hardy and beautiful, when in the begin¬
ning it was but an experiment.”
South of the house and sheltered by it from the full sweep of
the north winds, lies the garden which has long been noted in the
annals of Virginia. In form it is semi-circular. A ten-foot turfed
walk extends between clumps of althea, lilac and syringa, crepe
myrtles, spiraea and mimosa trees, and beds rich in iris, paeonies
and other perennials. Hackberry, ash and elm trees overshadow
the rose-draped fence and trellises at the entrance. These are
covered with a profusion of century-old damask roses of marvelous
perfume, and scores of others, some of the names of which are all »
but forgotten amid the motley throng of modern blooms. ©
Beginning at the garden entrance and multiplying farther on
stand sempervirens box trees, their tops modified in pointed
arborescence. ‘These splendid box trees, defiant of time and trim¬
med to perfect cones, throw their shafts fifteen feet into the sky.
With scattering knots of dwarf box they add great dignity to this
garden laid out many years ago. It is gratifying to tell that the
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