66 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[March, 



side, and no trees on the other, it would be too Hyacinths, Tulips, Liliums, and other hardy- 

 hot for us. We fancy our Southern readers bulbs set out in the fall, and covered through 



would not sacrifice their nice groves of Magno 

 lia grandiflora and Live Oak for all the nice- 

 ties of such art as exhibited in the plan repro- 

 duced here. 



So far as the South is concerned, gardeners 

 work with a view to the coming sjiring ; but for 

 those gardens north of the Potomac, there is 

 plenty yet to do. For them at least we may 

 offer a few brief practical hints. 



Prune shrubs, roses and vines. Those which 

 flower from young wood, cut in severely to make 

 new growth vigorous. Tea, China, Bourbon and 

 Noisette 

 roses are of 

 this class. 

 "What are 

 called an- 

 nual flower- 

 ing roses, 

 as Prairie 

 Queen and 

 so on, re- 

 quires lots 

 of last year's 

 vro o d to 

 make a good 

 show of flow- 

 ers. Hence, 

 with these, 

 thin out 

 weak wood, 

 and leave all the stronger. 



Do not transplant extensively till the ground 

 is warm and the buds are about to push. Many 

 things die by exposure to winds for a few weeks 

 before they have warmth to push roots and 

 leaves into growth. 



The rule for pruning at transplanting is to cut 

 in proportion to apparent injury to roots. If not 

 much the worse for removal, cut but little of the 

 top away. Properly pruned, a good gardener 

 will not have the worst case of a badly dug tree 

 to die under his hands 



the winter, should be occasionally examined, 

 and when they show signs of active growth, 

 must be uncovered; in this latitude this is not 

 safe until towards the end of the month. 



Most things have been pruned, but Roses are 

 always left to "see what damage the wmter may 

 do." In the " summer " roses, or those which 

 bloom only once in the season, the rule is to thin 

 out the weak shoots and leave the stronger 

 ones, merely shortening their tops. If pruned 

 severely in the usual shortening style, they will 

 not bloom freely. The hybrid perpetual roses, 



if wanted for 

 early flower- 

 ing, should 

 also be serv- 

 ed much in 

 the same 

 way ; but as 

 their chief 

 value is as 

 fall flowers, 

 a severe 

 pruning now 

 produces a 

 vigorous 

 fall growth ; 

 bears large 

 and luxuri- 

 ous blooms. 



GROUND PLAN OF AN EUROPEAN PARK SCENE. The Tea, 



i China, Bourbon and ]!!^'oisette roses which flower 

 best on young wood, should be well cut in. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



THE COMPARATIVE HARDINESS OF CER- 

 TAIN JAPANESE LICUSTRUMS. 



BY SAMUEL PARSONS, JR. 



In a late number of the Gardener's Month- 

 In a nursery, where these | ly, pp. 354, I notice C. E. P's queries as to the 



matters are well understood, trees "never die." hardiness of Ligustrums Ibota and coriaceum, 



Chrysanthemums are now indispensable for and the best methods of protecting them. The 



autumn decoration of the flower garden. Now Ligustrums in question, possess about the same 



is the time to procure a supply. They do well degree of hardiness as the Ligustrum Japonicum, 



in any rich garden soil that is not too dry. The of which indeed coriaceum may be termed a va- 



Lilliputian, or Pompone class are still popular riety. During moderate winters, a light cover- 



for conservatory or pot culture, but the large ing of evergreen boughs, or a sheaf of straw 



flowering kinds still remain the gems of the open bound together at one end, placed loosely over 

 ground. | the plant and tied to a stake will generally suf- 



