THE finest cedar hedge I have ever seen (in this country or in Europe) is on one of the old plantations. It is not ante bellum, though, having been planted about twenty years ago. The soil in which it grows is unusually poor, and was prepared as follows: a circular ditch two feet deep and three wide was dug ; into this was put dead leaf mould and the displaced soil in alternate layers. In this the little cedars, taken up with a cake of earth, were planted in a double row, and watered regularly for a month or so. During the summer some of the plants died and these were replaced. Twice a year the hedge was carefully clipped, and at the end of ten years had obtained the perfection of its beauty, and "stood dressed in living green." The constant clipping has kept the foliage delicate and prevented it from getting the somber hue of old cedar trees. Most justly does it excite the admiration of all visitors. The sides are not perpendicular, but after reaching the height of four or five feet, slope inwards, so that the flat surface on the top is only a foot wide.

Cherokee Roses.

Alarming signs of decay in certain branches or plants have several times appeared, but generally stimulating liquid manure has proved a cure.

On the same plantation are two other hedges worthy of mention; a "wildorange"(Lauroccrasus Caroliniana), sometimes called " mock orange," and a gardenia. The former is very old, nearly a century, but it seems as vigorous and healthy as ever, and stands constant trimming. The tree when left to itself is symmetrical, and reaches a height of thirty or forty feet; one blown down by the cyclone of 1886 measured sixty-five feet. It had sprung up in a cluster of oaks, and had to reach up to the sunlight. It had no branches, only a head. The other hedge, the gardenia, or cape jessamine (so called because introduced by Commissary Garden from the Cape of Good Hope) flourishes in those parts of the shrubberies which lie on the edges of the rice fields, where it is valuable as being a handsome ever-green shrub which can stand water. During the spring freshets the family take to the canoes and are paddled between the rows of gardenias, which hedge in a favorite walk, and which will emerge as green as ever from their bath of several weeks duration. Even the smaller plants and cuttings do not object to a submersion which would kill the magnolia and other native plants. The flower resembles a white camellia, and is very fragrant.

On a neighboring place are some fine box hedges; the grandmother of the present "oldest inhabitant" could not remember when they were planted. Other favorite hedges are: The cassena (Youpon holly), which is very tough and of compact growth, but does not produce its beautiful berries, or only sparingly, when kept clipped ; the euonymus, which grows vigorously and is valuable on account of its fine glossy foliage and berry ; the cherokee rose, which must be allowed to follow its own sweet will - most fortunately this is generally in a right direction ! The finest growth seems usually attained by allowing it to over run a native growth of underbrush, such as naturally covers the sides of ditches or banks. Though the bloom is very transitory, its exceeding beauty and the grace of its long glossy-leaved branches makes it well worth the caring for.

The pittosporum has fine glossy foliage, sometimes variegated with white, and rather effective, clustered, white flowers, with a rather disagreeable perfume. A hedge of the common fish geranium might be added to the above list, though it is an uncommon one. The plants were nearly five feet high, and bloomed freely. It was under my care for several winters, and stood a low temperature, being partially covered on the coldest nights, but it was killed by an unusually severe "freeze." While it lived, it was a notable and brilliant hedge.

Charleston. C.