DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 459 



but suckers and layers are apt to be more imperfect in this respect. 

 Fig. 155, b, represents a common stool of 

 suckers and their roots, which may be 

 divided to make several plants, each with a 

 root. The single stems, rooted all around, 

 like the one marked a, are much better 

 plants than those with roots on one side 

 only as shown at c. It will be seen at a glance that the 

 latter are much more likely to make lop-sided shrubs. Where 

 it is desired to confine a shrub to a single stem, a plant rooted 

 like the one at a is indispensable ; but for those shrubs which 

 sucker and sprout so in\-eterately that they cannot be confined 

 to a single heart or trunk, plants like those shown at b and c 

 will answer as well. In the former case all the buds that can be 

 seen that would be below the line of ground surface after plant- 

 ing should be carefully cut out. The top should then be encouraged 

 to branch low, otherwise suckers will spring from the roots in spite 

 of all attempt to keep them back. It is a common mistake of 

 those who experiment to make tree-like shrubs, to trim up the stems 

 from the first. This at once lessens the vigor of the stem just 

 where it needs to be strengthened. To grow a shrub on a single 

 trunk, strong low branches must be encouraged, and these, resting 

 upon and shading the ground around the stem will usually lessen 

 the tendency to suckers, which is worse in many-stemmed and 

 " trimmed-up " shrubs. The advantage of a central trunk for 

 some shrubs is not in the sight of tall bare stems which at once 

 destroy the shrubby effect which shrubs are planted to produce, 

 but rather for their greater neatness of appearance, ease of culture, 

 and finer shadows under their drooping branches, than are ever 

 seen under sucker-environed shrubs. These remarks of course apply 

 only to those shrubs which show some aptitude for an arboreous 

 habit. To attempt to grow currants, spireas, and other shrubs, in a 

 tree form, will be time and labor thrown away. 



