a description catalogue as it plainly explains the natural habit of 

 every shrub and tree that is grown and it will give you more 

 pleasure and save time. 



The trimming of trees and shrubs including fruit trees is 

 not always done to the best advantage and need. Too often trees 

 and shrubs are trimmed from the top only but not thinned out 

 from the inside, which in most cases is the most important. You 

 cannot grow fruit trees and expect to obtain first class fruit ex- 

 cept you are careful in the trimming and not leave too much of 

 a thicket on the top. It means that there shall be every chance 

 for the sun and air to come in contact with the fruit. There are 

 also many shrubs that will not stand much trimming from the 

 top such as lilac, magnolia and many other species. If such trees 

 are trimmed too much at the top, the buds will be cut off with 

 the result that the shrubs will bear no flowers that season. Be- 

 fore trimming is done trees and shrubs should be carefully looked 

 over and no inexperienced person should do this except with 

 advice. There are special cases where trimming needs to be 

 done in a different way, mostly where young deciduous shrubs and 

 hedges are planted. For instance, in planting a privet hedge, if 

 this is cut down to the ground it will be easier for the roots to 

 produce young healthy growth which will come up thick from the 

 bottom and make a more beautiful hedge and be much easier to 

 keep in shape, but this trimming is usually done to a privet edge 

 only and not for shrubbery in general, except where a shrub has 

 died down to the bottom and if cut off to the ground it sometimes 

 produces a new growth. I have mentioned before sharp tools 

 should always be used for all kinds of trimming including the 

 flowers. It means not only flowers on a shrub but also for 

 flowers in general. If a flower is broken off leaving a ragged 

 and split stump it will produce less flowers and be destructive to 

 the plant. If a flower is cut with scissors or a sharp knife the 

 cut will heal and sprout out close to the cut. 



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