358 0E2^AMEis"TAL GAEDEXIXG. 



start in this way, the improved part of which died long 

 ago. Some handsome shrubs like the Waxberry, bend 

 down the tips of the branches, which take root ; the 

 plants thus formed should be treated as weeds, unless it 

 is desired to multiply them, when they should be removed 

 and cultivated elsewhere for later planting. 



Most of the shrubs, trees, aud plants, with variegated, 

 cut, or curled leaves, are Avhat are called ** sports" — that 

 is, they are departures from the ordinary forms of 

 the plants, and which have been propagated for these pe- 

 culiarities which are more or less distinctly fixed. There 

 is sometimes an inclination in such growths to revert to 

 the normal form, and this should be prevented by cut- 

 ting out any parts that fail to show the peculiarity. The 

 beautiful variegated-leaved Kerria and Waxberry, need 

 rather close watching on this account. 



COXTROLLIXG THE HABITS OF TREES AXD SHEUBS. 



The Junipers of erect habit are striking garden orna- 

 ments if of good forms. But sometimes they are disposed 

 to spread out and receive damage by the lodging of snow 

 in the centers. A few wires 2:)laced closely around them 

 will obviate this trouble, and lead to good forms. Weep- 

 ing trees, like the American Willow, Poplar, Ash, etc., 

 may be improved in symmetry by extending a large hoop 

 around the tree, to which the branches are "brought and 

 secured. When a tree is crooked or is disposed to lean 

 from the perpendicular, it should be straightened while 

 young, by tying it to a stake driven in at its side, or if it 

 merely leans over, by the less consj^icuous means of set- 

 ting a short stake a little ways off, drawing the tree 

 towards it by means of a wire, one end of which is 

 attached to the tree by means of a leather strap, and the 

 other end wound around the stake. It may be noted 

 that crooks in young tree trunks naturally decrease as 



