350 ORXAMEKTAL GAEDEKINQ. 



LAWN'S. 



New lawns may be started by seeding or sodding. Old 

 lawns should be well rolled and thoroughly raked to re- 

 move the dead grass or manure, and to liven up the sur- 

 face. The grass will start rapidly with warm weather, 

 and the mower should be put in action as soon as needed. 



PRUJS'IJS'G EVERGREENS. 



Now is a good time for this work. If Spruces, Hem- 

 locks, Firs, Arbor Vit^es, Junipers, and Japan Cypress, 

 are in places too contracted to allow of their full develop- 

 ment, they may be clipped every year and kept at almost 

 any desired size. By thus cutting them they grow dense 

 and handsome, which is very desirable, especially with 

 that general favorite, the Xorway Spruce, for this tree, 

 without pruning, in time assumes an open style of growth 

 not pleasing for small grounds. In garden s and cemeteries 

 it is best to treat this tree by heading it back, at about 

 twelve feet in hight, to form dense rounded specimens. The 

 Pines are rarely better for pruning, although some kinds, 

 like the White Pine, are very tractable under the shears. 

 Whatever kinds are being pruned, their natural form of 

 growth should usually indicate the shape, such as trim- 

 ming the conical growers to a cone, and so on. 



As a rule, no cutting should be done further back than 

 the last year's growth, although no harm is likely to come 

 from so doing, if for any reason it seems best. Always 

 cut a branch back to some strong bud, so that the new 

 growth may start apparently from the end of the re- 

 maining part. If the growth ought to be stopped in 

 any direction, with a view to securing symmetry or to 

 have the tree thicken, this may be effected without the 

 blemish of a cut, by simply removing the center bud. 

 If any kind of evergreen is becoming bare at the base. 



