PRUNING 



none are needed. These should be promptly 

 removed. We cannot afford to have the vital- 

 ity of our plants expended on the production 

 of unnecessary growth. Check this tendency 

 as soon as discovered, and, by so doing, throw 

 the strength of the plant into that portion of it 

 which is to be more or less permanent. 



If a plant, or any branch of it, exhibits no 

 tendency to produce side-branches, and these 

 are desired, nip off the end of it. This, as a 

 general thing, will cause branches to start 

 along the stalk below. If one nipping does not 

 produce the desired effect, nip again, and keep 

 on doing so until you have as many branches 

 as you think necessary. Patient persistence, 

 in this respect, will almost always conquer the 

 most stubborn plants. 



Nipping off the top of a plant when it is 

 small causes it to develop several branches 

 near its base, in most instances. Therefore, 

 by checking the upward growth of a plant 

 when small, you force it to take on a bushy, 

 shrub-like form. This form will be found 

 most satisfactory for the average house-plant. 



If you prefer a tree form for your plant, 

 allow but one stalk to grow until it has reached 

 the height where you would like to have it 



68 



