SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 401 



prized it last summer as one of the most beautiful lawn trees we have ever yet 

 set eyes upon. The leaves are twice the size of those which grow in the woods 

 and are perceptibly larger than those which grow upon trees of the same age 

 under cultivation when not cut back. Besides, the annual pruning has forced 

 the growth of many lateral buds which would otherwise have remained dor- 

 mant, so that the tree from spring till late autumn is a mass of luxuriant 

 foliage which entirely conceals the branches, and is most pleasing in its 

 refreshing shade of green and firmuess of texture during summer, and in its 

 golden hues of fall. We are of those who believe that, as a rule, all pruning 

 impairs in a greater or less degree the vigor or longevity of plants, though not, 

 perhaps, appreciably so in many cases. How long our Tulip will remain 

 healthy under this treatment remains to be seen. We are impressed, however, 

 that the development of several branches by pruning, in the place of one 

 branch when the tree is permitted to grow naturally, may change its size from 

 one of the first magnitude with an erect, columnar trunk, to one of compara- 

 tively dwarf dimensions; in other words, that the vigor which in the woods is 

 expended in the growth of a colossal main stem, is by cutting back distributed 

 among a greatly increased number of lateral branches and leaves. — iV. Y. 

 Tribune. 



THE ROSE OF SHARON. 



Not much like our ideal of the queen of flowers is the Rose of Sharon or 

 Allliea. It is neither sweet-scented, graceful, nor particularly exquisite in color 

 of flower, yet it asserts and proves its value very thoroughly in its own way. If 

 not graceful, it is straight, sturdy, and vigorous, demanding for itself a prom- 

 inent position on the lawn, somewhat away from other shrubs, with which its 

 pronounced individuality does not readily blend. The flowers, if somewhat 

 coarse, are bright and cheerful and very welcome in August, when the lawn is 

 especially destitute of bloom. To me the most attractive althea flowers are 

 single ones. The purity of outline, simplicity and wealth of color of such 

 altheas are very attractive, particularly in an entirely white variety, which is 

 still quite rare. Altheas seldom receive intelligent pruning. One generally 

 meets monstrosities in this genus, for the very good reason that pruning, as 

 applied to altheas, is seldom pruning, but merely trimming or clipping. 

 Instead of removing only a few inches of new wood from year to year, the 

 pruning knife should boldly cut back into the old wood, within a foot to three 

 feet of the ground, according to the size and age of the specimen operated on. 

 This should be done systematically, in winter or early spring, and not in June, 

 as in the case of early flowering shrubs, for the reason that altheas bear their 

 flowers on wood produced in the current year of flowering. The result of such 

 management will simply be a bush, well clothed with leaves and flowers from 

 base to stem, instead of comparatively naked stems, with leaves and flowers 

 chiefly at the summit. — S. Parsons, Jr., in Country Gentleman. 



PICTURESQUE TREES. 



The most sensible remark I have heard about trees was by Sir Charles 

 Ishaw, who replied to one who was regretting that the snow had broken off 



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