328 SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



by giving water at the root from a flower-pot, as de- 

 scribed in the last chapter ; or, if a pot of sufficient size 

 cannot be obtained, an old butter firkin, with an auger 

 hole in the bottom, will answer admirably. 



Our autumn treatment is, only to give a top-dress- 

 ing of manure, to be dug in lightly with a fork (a spade 

 injures the roots) around the plant in early spring, when 

 the border is dug over. 



The only pruning necessary is to cut out any too luxu- 

 riant or unsightly branches, which should be done with 

 a sharp pruning-knife. 



If the plants are somewhat tender or weak, it may be 

 well to protect them against the winter's cold by tying 

 them up in straw, or, still better, cedar boughs, which may 

 be prettily trimmed off, so that all winter the plants 

 look like trimmed evergreens. The time for doing this is 

 about the middle of November, and the covering should be 

 removed about the first week in April. 



Protection from the sun may also be given by setting 

 small evergreen trees in the ground around any plant re- 

 quiring such protection. The trunk of the .tree may be 

 sharpened and thrust into the ground ; it will freeze in, 

 and stand firmly all winter. 





