r reasonable pruning.

[Illustration: _HEDGE OF MAIDEN'S BLUSH ROSE (6 feet to 7 feet high)._]

Any one would be surprised to see what a quantity of useful flowers such
a hedge would yield, while, if there is another of foliage for winter
use, it will be invaluable to the indoor decorator. We have just planted
a hedge for this use, all of golden variegated or yellow-leaved shrubs,
those chosen being the Scotch Gold Holly, Golden Euonymus, Golden
Privet, yellow variegated Box, and Golden Tree Ivy, all shrubs of the
utmost value for winter cuttings. Though they are barely 2 feet high as
yet, the slightly varied golden hedge is already a pleasant, cheering
sight in the quickly-shortening November days.

Other flower hedges are also delightful possessions. Hedges of China
Rose, of Lavender, of Sweetbriar, of old garden Roses, or of climbing or
rambling Roses trained down, of Honeysuckles, of Jasmine; some of these
are occasionally seen, but of a good selection of true shrubs hedges are
rarely if ever made.

Any of the shrubs recommended for the mixed flowering hedge could, of
course, be used alone; and excellent it would be to have a hedge of
Guelder Rose or flowering Currant or Japan Quince, and how much more
interesting than the usual hedge of Quick or Privet or Holly. Both sides
of the flower hedge should be easily accessible, not necessarily by a
hard path, but by a space just wide enough to go along comfortably. An
additional advantage well worth considering would be that, supposing the
direction of the hedge to be east and west, the south side would flower
in advance of the north, and so prolong the supply of bloom.

CHAPTER XXXVII

PLEACHED OR GREEN ALLEYS

In the old days the pleached alley was as familiar in English gardens as
the pergola of the present age. Both are interesting, and both provide
grateful shadowed walks in the heat of summer. The trees most generally
used in the fashioning of pleached alleys were the Hornbeam and Lime,
both native of this country, but green alleys have been made of Yew, of
_Cotoneaster buxifolia_, of Holly, and other evergreens. There are
flowering Cherries of weeping habit that would suit well for such
treatment, and several other small trees of pendulous growth, such as
Laburnum, Weeping Ash, and the large-leaved Weeping Elm. There is an
important green alley at West Dean, near Chichester, of Laburnum only.

[Illustration: _A NUT WALK._]

The green alley differs