PRUN^ING. 235 



come from the large buds that were formed on the end 

 of last season's growth, and to cut back such plants 

 would be to remove all the flower buds. AVith shrubs of 

 this kind, all that need be done is to thin out the branches 

 where they are too crowded. These examples will warn 

 the novice against indiscriminate pruning ; and unless, 

 as he stands before his shrub or tree, knife in hand, he 

 knows why he is to prune and how, let him put his knife 

 in his pocket, and give the plant the benefit of the 

 doubt. While, under the different fruits, we can give di- 

 rections for the particular iDruning required by each, the 

 proper method of treating a miscellaneous collection of 

 ornamental shrubs and trees can only be learned by 

 observation. 



The term pruning is generally applied to the cutting 

 away, in w^hole or in part, of the ripened wood ; but 

 much pruning may be done by the use of the thumb and 

 finger. This is termed pincUiny, and is practised upon 

 young shoots at the growing season, while they are yet 

 soft. This most useful form of pruning allows us to 

 control the form of a j)lant with the greatest ease, and 

 is applied not only to soft-wooded plants, but to trees 

 and shrubs, and may be so performed on these as to 

 render nearly, if not quite, all pruning of ripened wood 

 unnecessary. "When soft- wooded plants, such as Chrysan- 

 themums, Geraniums, or Colons, are planted out or grown 

 in pots, and left to themselves, most kinds will grow tall 

 and straggling ; but if judiciously '^pinched back," as it 

 is called (that is, the top of the strongest shoots pinched 

 out), the plants can be shaped into a bushy, rounded 

 form at will. If a vigorous shoot has its end or **grow- 

 ing point" pinched out it will cease to elongate, but will 

 throw out branches below, the growth of wiiich may be 

 controlled in the same manner. The Blackberry illus- 

 trates the utility of this kind of pruning. The rampant 

 growing shoot which springs up from the root will, if 



