PRUNING ^7 



in the spring and the bark of the stumps well moistened at least twice 

 daily to assist the development and breaking through of the dormant 

 leaf buds. Cuts should be made just above a whorl of leaves because 

 adventitious buds will appear there more promptly than elsewhere. 

 If the plants are not thrifty it might be advisable to cut half of the 

 stalks to the ground, using care not to decrease, more than is necessary, 

 the beauty of the plants. New shoots will be developed from the 

 ground, and when these reach a satisfactory height, repeat the process 

 with the remaining stalks. The root system will also be benefited 

 by such treatment. 



Pruning is seldom resorted to with rhododendrons in order to pro- 

 duce increased size and quantity of flowers. As an added precaution 

 for the successful development of rhododendrons all the seed pods 

 should be removed from the finer and less vigorous growing plants 

 immediately after the flowering period is complete and before any 

 of the plant energy has been expended in the development and ripen- 

 ing of the seed pods, thus diverting this energy into the production of 

 new flower buds instead of into the production of useless seed pods. 



Vines. Vines are pruned only to remove dead wood and strag- 

 gling growth. Prune vines after blooming, except vines with orna- 

 mental fruit; the latter should be cut back severely in the spring, 

 because they fruit on the new wood. 



Roses. Prune hybrid perpetual and most other hardy roses in 

 April when sap begins to flow and buds start to swell. At this time 

 dead wood may be most easily distinguished and mulch should not 

 be disturbed earlier. Memorial roses and rambler roses should be 

 pruned just after the flowering season to produce wood for the next 

 year's bloom. 



Other things being equal, the pruning determines the quantity and 

 size of flowers. Severe pruning will produce the largest and best 

 flowers; less severe pruning is productive of a large crop of average 

 flowers; medium pruning produces a large crop of smaller blooms 

 (Plate V, Page 24). 



For severe pruning, thin out to the base all but three to five shoots, 

 with two to three buds on each shoot. Less severe pruning requires 

 the same number of shoots to be cut back to from five to ten buds. 

 For medium pruning, leave four to seven shoots and cut each back to 



