MANAGEMENT OF OLD TREES 57 



gone, as it is extremely dangerous to clip before that 

 period has passed. There is nothing more injurious to 

 newly clipped boxwood than sharp frosts. I have seen 

 boxwood that was over a hundred years old clipped in 

 April, with the result that a few sharp frosty nights 

 killed the whole of it. 



Excepting during the clipping season, there is very 

 little work to be done to the trees in a Topiary garden, 

 unless it is top-dressing them with some sort of manure, 

 or keeping a look-out for branches that have become 

 loose through wind or some other cause. If this occurs, 

 the branches should be immediately tied back into their 

 places before any injury takes place to the tree. 



There is another danger that should be strictly 

 guarded against in winter, and that is, the danger the 

 trees undergo in the event of heavy falls of snow. 

 When the trees are old and large and in every way 

 adapted for carrying a heavy weight of snow, no time 

 should be lost in getting it removed as quickly as 

 possible ; the sooner the men get to work the better, 

 even before the snow has ceased if it is at all likely 

 to be a heavy fall. The labour of having to go over 

 the trees two or three times must not be considered if 

 they are to be saved from injury. It is much better 

 to keep constantly knocking the snow off with light 

 switches, than take the risk of having the trees crushed 

 out of shape and broken. 



