242 



TJie HwlicultuHst and Journal 



padding for the sake of show— an objection 

 which attaches to most society publications, 

 particukrly those paid for with State or 

 National funds. 



Golden-netted Honeysuckle {Lonicera 

 aurea reticulata), Mr. T, T, Lyon, in a let- 

 ter to the Michigan Farmer, says that where 

 placed in the open air, and in full influence of 

 the sun, failed, but when transplanted to the 

 north side of the house, it succeeded. 



We removed it to the north side of the 

 house, placing it, as before, in a light, loamy 

 soil, with porous subsoil. Here it soon recov- 

 ered, and showed its appreciation of the change 

 by making growths of eight or ten feet during 

 the season, with foliage as rich and healthy as 

 could be desired, constituting it one of the 

 most beautiful and effective plants in our col- 

 lection, the more especially as the effect con- 

 tinued through the entire growing season. 



The foliage seemed unaffected by frosts, 

 retaining *its richness and beauty unscathed 

 till time to go into winter quarters, when, al- 

 though our previous experience satisfied us of 

 its probable hardiness, we thought to make 

 assurance doubly sure, and dropped it upon 

 the ground, throwing over it some garden lit- 

 ter, and leaving it in this condition till the 

 opening of spring, when, on removing the cov- 

 ering, it came out apparently uninjured, and 

 with a portion of the beautifully netted foliage 

 yet unharmed. We replaced it against the 

 wall, where, during the second summer, it 

 made a very vigorous growth, nearly covering 

 a portion of wall about eight by ten feet. 



No one who has only been accustomed to 

 see this plant as grown in the greenhouse, with 

 its roots confined to the narrow limits of a pot. 

 can form an adequate idea of the richness and 

 effectiveness of the plant when grown in the 

 open ground, in the manner indicated. No 

 amount of vigor seems to suffice against the 

 influence of direct sunlight, as we observed 

 that a few of the strongest shoots, when ex- 

 posed to the direct light of the sun for only an 

 hour or two during the heat of the afternoon, 

 soon showed the scorching effect upon their 

 foliage. It increases rapidly by layers or by 



cuttings taken in July or August, and planted 

 in ordinary soil in a moist, shaded locality. 



Ed. Note. — We have the same vine grow- 

 ing for three years in open air, on light, sandy 

 soil, at Dover, Del., exposed without protec- 

 tion to severest suns and freezing cold, and 

 not a leaf has ever been injured. We consider 

 it hardy, and not in the least affected by the 

 heat of the sun. 



Pt-iiniiKj Evergreens. — In setting out 

 small Arbor Vitses and Hemlocks, say those ten 

 to fifteen inches high, I cut back side branches, 

 and leading shoots, one-third, and this can be 

 done very rapidly, by grasping the entiro top 

 in one hand, then, witht he other shear or cut 

 with one stroke of the pruning knife. 



If the plants are smaller, say six to ten 

 inches high, a half dozen or more can be easily 

 taken in hand at one time, and all pruned 

 with one stroke. This cutting back of the 

 tops is very beneficial to young plants from 

 the seed beds, or when gathered from the 

 woods. The roots are always more or less 

 injured, and lessening of the amount of top 

 will often be the means of saving life. In 

 removing larger ti'ees, and of different kinds, 

 such as the spruces and pines, a shortening of 

 the branches will not only assist in saving the 

 life of the plants, but aid in giving them a 

 good, symmetrical form. Evergreens grown in 

 nursery rows are very likely to be distorted 

 in form ; the branches on the two sides adjoin- 

 ing the neighboring plants in the ro^^ will be 

 much shorter and less in number than on the 

 other two sides ; consequently, the shortening 

 of the longer ones gives symmetry and uni- 

 formity of appearance. 



It is a great mistake to suppose, as many 

 persons do, that evergreens require no pruning. 

 They may not need as much as deciduous 

 trees ; still, a little at the time of transplant- 

 ing, and enough afterwards to keep them in 

 proper shape, is certainly beneficial, if not 

 positively necessary. If trees that have been 

 set in nursery rows or hedges fail to make 

 stocky specimens, the leading shoots should 

 be annually shortened, until the requisite 

 form is secured. — '•'■ Riiralist''' i)i Rural New 

 Yorker. 



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