Fine young seedling evergreens can often be found in the woods or
fields, and may be had for the asking, or for a trifling sum. Dig
them so as to save all the roots possible. Never permit these to
become dry till they are safe in your own grounds. Aim to start
the little trees under the same conditions in which you found them
in Nature. If taken from a shady spot, they should be shaded for a
season or two, until they become accustomed to sunlight. This can
easily be accomplished by four crotched stakes supporting a light
scaffolding, on which is placed during the hot months a few
evergreen boughs.

Very pretty and useful purposes can often be served by the
employment of certain kinds of evergreens as hedges. I do not like
the arbitrary and stiff divisions of a small place which I have
often seen. They take away the sense of roominess, and destroy the
possibility of pretty little vistas; but when used judiciously as
screens they combine much beauty with utility. As part of line
fences they are often eminently satisfactory, shutting out prying
eyes and inclosing the home within walls of living green. The
strong-growing pines and Norway spruce are better adapted to large
estates than to the area of an acre. Therefore we would advise the
employment of the American arbor vitae and of hemlock. The hedge
of the latter evergreen on Mr. Fuller's place formed one of the
most beautiful and symmetrical walls I have ever seen. It was so
smooth, even, and impervious that in the distance it appeared like
solid emerald.

The ground should be thoroughly prepared for a hedge by deep
plowing or by digging; the trees should be small, young, of even