HOW TO PRUNE SHRUBS. 



589 



Flowers at the Exhibition 



''1 "^ HE exhibit of annuals and perennials 

 A at the Toronto exhibition was fully 

 up to the average. Special mention can be 

 made of the sweet peas shown by Mrs. 

 Johnston, of Lennoxville, Quebec ; the as- 

 ters shown by J. H. Lock, and the dahlias 

 and gladioli shown by W. Rennie & Co. 

 Among the many prize winners were -be 

 following: W. Rennie, J. H. Lock, Steele, 

 Briggs Co., W. J. Hare, Toronto ; C. Scott, 

 J. W. Stockdale, Jas. Ogilvie, H. L. Oaken- 

 den, Peter Stevenson, A. M. Wilson, E. 

 Grainger, Peter Murray, E. Byfield, and 

 others. In was the opinion of different ex- 

 hibitors that a more unsuitable building 

 would be hard to find in which to exhibit 

 flowers. Nature's most beautiful products 

 should have a better building. No other 

 class of exhibitors have been given as little 

 attention as the flower and fruit grower?. 

 It is time for a change. 



Pruning Hedges and Shrubs* 



WM. HUNT, O. A. C, GUEI.PH, ONT. 



What is the best time of year to prune cedar 

 hedges, syringas, etc, ? 



About the end of April or early in May 

 is the best time to prune a cedar hedge. It 

 should be done before the new growth com- 

 mences, which is usually about the end of 

 May. Many prefer trimming or pruning 

 evergreen hedges in the fall, as there is 

 usually more leisure time at that season of 

 the year. The objection to fall clipping 

 or pruning of evergreens is that it leaves 

 them bare and rusty looking all winter, the 

 season of the year when evergreens in good 

 color are the most appreciated and admired. 



Syringas and almost all flowering shrubs 

 can have all the pruning they require at 

 almost any time from early spring until fall. 

 A large collection of flowering shrubs that 

 I planted over 25 years ago have been kept 



* A question asked at the convention cf the Canadian Horticul- 

 tural Association, held in Montreal during August. 



in splendid shape by an annual pruning or 

 thinning out of the most prominent shoots 

 here and there where required when the 

 shrubs were in flower. If carefully done 

 they can be prevented from growing too 

 large and kept symmetrical and natUx'al 

 looking as well. Flowering shrubs should 

 never be clipped with the shears in July, as 

 is too often done, as it removes almost the 

 whole of the flowering wood for the next 

 season. Besides, it gives the shrub an un- 

 natural appearance. The Hydrangea Pani- 

 culata Grandiflora is an exception to this 

 system of pruning. This plant should have 

 the young growth pruned back either in 

 early winter or early spring when the wood 

 has ripened well. The young wood should 

 be pruned back so as to leave three to six 

 inches of the base of the young growth. 

 These spurs will throw good strong bloom- 

 ing wood the following season. 



Flower Notes 



In selecting pansies for a show it is a 

 strong point to have the belting or mar- 

 gined colors as perfectly defined as possible. 

 To secure this it may be necessary to shade 

 the flowers from the sun should it be very 

 bright weather. Pick the bloom with as 

 long a stem as possible, and in arranging 

 them in the dish or vase keep the colors as 

 distinct as you can, as it will help to bring 

 the different shades into effect. — (E. F. 

 Collins, Toronto, Ont.) 



Water your plants well before bringing 

 them in and they will not need much water 

 for the first week or two. After they have 

 become accustomed to the change and be- 

 gun to grow, water twice a week, and when 

 the days grow longer, three times a week. 

 Perhaps some will need more. I had some 

 pans made to fit my shelves and find them a 

 great improvement on the old way of hav- 

 ing saucers for each pot. — (Mrs. W. J. Mc- 

 Lenahan, Appleby, Ont. 



