THE OLD TOPIARY WORK. 



which bud must be on the under, or outside part of the shoot, rarely or never in 

 a vertical position, because it would tend to bring in the construction of the tree 

 more of those vertical or upright shoots, every one of which ought to be carefully 

 cut away, as absorbing, by a natural privilege of its vertical position, all the sap, 

 and destroying the harmony of the tree. It follows that a limb inclined at an 

 angle of 45^, or a lower bend, is more fitted to make spurs, and go over to bear- 

 ing by the deprivation of superabundant sap. Inclined, or down-hent limbs, of 

 course, make a tree bear, but are so injurious to the growth of the tree that we 

 have seen many of the stoutest pyramids, and most vigorous varieties, give up at 

 once and linger or die, if not immediately submitted to a regular mode of pruning. 

 An angle of 45° is the best direction for the limbs of a pyramid. They make good 

 bearers, without injuring the health and vigor of the tree. 



I fear, Mr. Editor, that my remarks have taken more room than I intended to 

 give them," and still there is so much more to be said ; but I hope that some may 

 be induced to let trees be trees, instead of bushes, and wait a little longer for 

 better and more fruit, by a rational treatment of that invaluable ornament of our 

 gardens and desserts. 



THE OLD TOPIARY WORK. 



Old-fashioned gardening embraced a great amount of topiary work, or trim- 

 ming shrubbery into figures, without which the grounds adjoining the house were 

 considered incomplete. This continued till the time of Addison and Pope, whose 

 better taste attempted a reform. 



AN CLD CLIPPED YEW-TEEE. 



Vol. VI.— July, 1856. 



21 



