THE 



'^KW YOU 

 GARDEN 



Gardener's Monthly 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. a/bOR/CULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN. 



Vol. XIX. 



JANUARY, 1877. 



Number 217. 



.LOWER MARDEN AND Mf LEASURE MROUND. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Trees always give a great value to an estate, 

 and, as they grow up, not only really add to the 

 beauty of the place, but much lessen its working 

 expenses. They also give a little wildness to the 

 spot, which is in itself a beauty ; for, when we 

 speak of neatness as essential in a garden, we 

 mean of course, those parts which one would be 

 expected to keep neat, and which will look all 

 the more neat for having a little wildnesg to con- 

 trast with them. 



It is a pleasure to note that the taste for trees 

 is increasing. They bring us the best form of 

 beauty, and in a state that does not cost much 

 to keep. And not trees alone, clumps of shrub- 

 bery often have a beautiful effect, and, once 

 planted, require no care for many years. They 

 may be selected from amongst the Spiraeas, Li- 

 lacs, Syringas, Mock Orange, Upright Honeysuck- 

 les, Weigelas, Deutzias, Forsythias, Elaegnuses, 

 Pyrus japonica, Hypericum, Willows, Almonds, 

 Calycanthus, Dwarf Horse Chestnuts, Dogwoods, 

 Purple Hazels, Snowdrop Trees, Bird Cherries, 

 &c. 



Some judgment is required in pruning flower- 

 ing shrubs, roses, etc., although it is usual' to act 

 as if it were one of the most common-place opera- 

 tions. One of the most clumsy of the hands is 

 commonly set to work with a pair of shears, and 

 he goes through the whole place, clipping off 

 everything indiscriminately. Distinction should 



be made between those flowering shrubs that 

 make a vigorous growth, and those which grow 

 weakly; and between those which flower on the 

 old wood of last year, and those which flower on 

 the newy growth of next season, as the effect of 

 pruning is to force a strong and vigorous growth. 

 Those specimens that already grow too strong to 

 flower well, should be only lightly pruned ; and, 

 in the same individual, the weakest shoots should 

 be cut in more severely than the stronger ones. 

 Some things like the Mock Oranges, Lilacs and 

 others, flower on the wood of last year — to prune 

 these much now, therefore, destro3^s the flower- 

 ing ; while such as Altheas, which flower on the 

 young wood, cannot be too severely cut in, look- 

 ing to that object alone. 



Wherever any part of a tree does not grow, 

 freely, pruning of such weak growth, at this sea- 

 son, will induce it to push more freely next year. 

 All scars made by pruning off large branches, 

 should be painted or tarred over, to keep out the 

 rain. Many fruit trees become hollow, or fall 

 into premature decay, from the rain penetrating 

 through old saw cuts made in pruning. Also 

 the branches should be cut close to the trunk, so 

 that no dead stumps shall be produced on the 

 tree, and bark will readily grow over. Many 

 persons cut ofl' branches of trees in midsummer, 

 in order that the returning sap may speedily 

 clothe the wound with new bark, but the loss of 

 much foliage in summer injures the tree, and 

 besides, painting the scar removes all danger of 

 rotting at the wound. 



