3G8 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



suburb:ui residence with a large yard containing a good many evergreen trees, 

 as spruces, which were "trimmed up in good shape" into solid bushes. This 

 was pointed out to me as the most noteworthy garden at Marshall and the 

 trimmed trees were its forte. But I didn't think so. A spruce in its lull devel- 

 opment is a handsome, noble looking tree, but robbed of its natural inclination, 

 symmetry and order, it becomes an abnormal absurdity. You can obtain more 

 enjoyment from the possession of one really well-developed, handsome tree than 

 from ninety and nine that have been clip])eil to deformity. 



SHORTENING IN. 



Mr. Downing long ago wrote, that the peach bears pruning especially well ; 

 and even late in the spring, when it is unsafe to prune many trees because the 

 fresh wounds continue to bleed. A laborer can be shown in five minutes how 

 to prune a whole orchard, for the best course is simply to shorten back all the 

 strongest shoots, over the top of the tree, one-half. The philosophy of this is 

 that the later formed buds seldom set fruit but drop off, while the best peaches 

 are obtained from the stout triple buds that have been first formed low down 

 on the shoot (early in the season's growth). The side-shoots that grow out 

 of strong leaders as a second growth are not so apt to hold their fruit as the 

 slender shoots, often covered with fruit buds alone, which have issued lower 

 down and earlier, and which dry up after bearing, and in time drop off. This 

 pruning enables the tree to carry its burden more safely, and facilitates pick- 

 ing, besides conserving the health of the tree by removing the half-ripened 

 wood liable to disease. This princijjle in pruning, of cutting away before the 

 spring sap flows, all unripe Avood liable to injury by the winter, is applicable to 

 other trees than the peach. The pear is especially safe-guarded by it, and 

 grape vines, Antwerp raspberries, and half hardy roses, will grow much better 

 by having this source of decay and corrupting sap removed. Its viris is com- 

 parable to that of unhealthy pus absorbed by the blood, and spreading pyjemia 

 through every vein. 



PRUNING SHRUBS. 



We are indebted to Ellwanger & Barry's descriptive catalogue for the fol- 

 lowing excellent suggestions concerning the pruning of shrubs : 



Pruning, as sometimes practiced, has the effect to render trees and shrubs 

 unnatural and inelegant, by shearing into cones, pyramids and other unnatural 

 shapes. Every tree and shrub has a habit of growth peculiar to itself, and this 

 peculiarity is one of its beauties. If we prune all alike into regular shapes, we 

 destroy their identity. The pruning-knife, therefore, siiould be used and 

 handled with judgment to lop off straggling branches. Shearing may be prac- 

 ticed on hedges, but never on trees and shrubs. 



While symmetry and regularity of form are to be admired in a shrub, this 

 quality should never be gained at the expense of health and natural grace, 

 wiegelias, deutzias, forsythias, and mock orange, flower on the wood of the 

 preceding year's growth, and hence these shrubs should not be pruned in winter 

 and spring, but in June after they have finished flowering, when the old wood 

 should be shortened or cut out, thus promoting the growth of young wood 



