WHEN TO PRUNE STREET TREES. 



fASSING along one of the streets 

 of our city to-day, I noticed a 

 man trimming some very fine 

 shade trees of about twelve years' 

 growth, consisting of maples and elms. 



From every cut on the maples the 

 sap was dropping almost a stream, in 

 some cases it was oozing out and spread- 

 ing over the bark of the tree ; the elms, 

 of course, were not bleeding so freely. 



I ventured to remark that I did not 

 think it the proper time to trim shade 

 trees, giving as my reason that at this 

 season of the year there was a great 

 loss of sap, especially in maples, and 

 that I did not think that a cut made 

 now would heal over as quickly as if 

 cut in June, after the sap had gone up 

 and the foliage was out. The trimmer 

 stated that so far as he was personally 

 concerned, he did not know much 

 about that, but said he had been told 

 that March was a good time in which 

 to trim such trees. And I have no- 

 ticed that our City Park Commissioner 

 is busily engaged with a staff of men 

 trimming the city shade trees. 



Now, Mr. Editor, I write for infor- 

 mation in reference to this matter ; for 



my own part I do not consider that 

 shade trees, or any other trees, should 

 be trimmed at this season of the year. 



I would like very much if you would 

 give your opinion on this subject, as 

 you no doubt have had actual experi- 

 ence in trimming, both shade and fruit 

 trees. I should also like to have the 

 opinion of others, through your valua- 

 ble Journal, especially on the trimming 

 of shade trees, such as maples, elms, 

 etc., and what is the best time to trim. 



Will a large limb, say, from one to 

 three inches in diameter, cut now, heal 

 over as quickly as if cut in June ? or do 

 you think a cut made now will heal 

 over at all? Is a tree not injured more 

 by the sap running from a cut made 

 now, than by the loss of vitality in pro- 

 ducing the foliage on these limbs, if 

 taken out in June ? 



I trust my enquiries are not out of 

 place, and that anyone who may have 

 studied this important matter of trim- 

 ming street trees, may give the result of 

 their experiments, or knowledge, through 

 your paper. 



A Constant Reader. 

 Toronto, Match, i8g~. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Dust, insects, dry air and over-water- 

 ing are the principal difficulties that they 

 have to contend with.- By arranging 

 some light covering to put over them 

 while the room is being swept, and an 

 occasional syringing in the bath-tub, 

 kitchen sink or elsewhere supplemented 

 by a sponging the leaves of all sniootli 

 leaved plants, this great enemy to plant 

 health, may be kept under. 



Insects may be mainly kept off by 

 hand picking and a brush; if needed 

 apjjly tobacco water, or arrange a liox or 

 barrel in which they may be thoroughly 

 fumigated with tobacco smoke. 



Over watering kills many plants ; pots 

 in the house, especially the handsome 

 glazed ones, should be provided with 

 abundant drainage — broken pots, cin- 

 ders, oyster .shells, anything to make 

 open layer at the bottom ; then a layer 

 of moss to keep the earth from washing 

 down, and then a soil made so open by 

 sand that it will allow the water to pass 

 through. With these precautions there 

 is no danger, but where the surface of 

 the soil is muddy an hour after watering, 

 there is something wrong and plants 

 will not thrive. A. H. Ca.meron. 



Th'crlon, Out. 



1 86 



