NATIVE AND HARDY EVERGREENS 245 



to remove a portion of the leafy branches. This 

 helps to restore, in some measure, the balance 

 between root and top. The shrub will frequently 

 do this itself. Hollies, for instance, often lose a 

 large proportion of their leaves after transplanting 

 in spring ; it is one of the surest signs of success, 

 just as the shrivelling of the leaves on the branches 

 is the worst. Evergreen oaks also furnish other 

 examples." A difference of opinion exists as to re- 

 moving any of the leafy branches. A great autho- 

 rity writes me : " Keep on all the foliage you can. 

 I have seen this succeed with large deciduous 

 trees." 



Remember that Evergreen oaks planted in late 

 spring or in summer should receive a thorough soak- 

 ing of water once, then no more until new growth 

 begins. Syringe freely three times a day in hot iveather. 

 I once saw a yew hedge that had been planted in 

 mid-winter, the wrong time ; it was looking rather 

 brown through exposure to March winds. The time 

 I refer to (April) a man was pouring water into the 

 roots and the result was that nearly all these fine 

 plants died. Had he damped the foliage twice or 

 thrice a day instead they would have all lived. It 

 is important in the case of newly planted yew and 

 holly hedges to protect by screens of spruce boughs 

 secured to a hurdle or any other material suitable at 

 hand to assist the plants until they have started into 

 growth. 



PRUNING. This is a great advantage to all 

 Evergreens in moderation ; the majority, if left to 



