176 OF PRUNING. SECT. XII- 



ing to the several modes of bearing^ of which con- 

 sider chiefly these; that is, whether they produce 

 their flowers upon the last year's shoots, or the pre- 

 sent ; on the ends, or the sides of their branches. If 

 a shrub bears on the last year's shoots, it is evident 

 that it must be cut away no more than is necessary 

 to keep it within bounds, open, and handsome as to 

 its form ; in this case, it is the business to cut clean 

 out, or very low, what is to be spared. If a shrub 

 bears on the present year's shoots, the old wood may, 

 and must be cut down freely, so however as to leave 

 eyes enough for new shoots to pruceed from, to make 

 a sufficient head and show. If the shrub bears al- 

 togetherj or chiefly at its ends, no shortening must 

 take place; but if some of the branches are loo 

 long, they may be either cut out, or quite low, leav- 

 ing the shorter ones to bear. If the shrub bears 

 along its sides, the shortening is of no consequence, 

 and the desired form may be freely provided for at 

 pleasure. 



The season for pruning shrubs is generally reckoned 

 the spring, but autumn is better, if not too near win- 

 ter ; as at this time, sharp weather might occasion 

 some of the sorts, (as jasmines and honeysuckles) to 

 die down. The time of flowering, must in some 

 measure direct the time of pruning. Shrubs that 

 flower in winter, (as the laurustinus^) should be 

 cut in spring. Those that flower in spring may be 

 pruned immediately after their blow, or in summer. 

 Those that flower in summer showld be pruned in 

 autumn ; and those that flower in autumn should 

 be pruned either soon after flowering or early in 

 spring. 



Be sure to take off in time, i. e. as soon as disco- 

 vered, all suckers and over strong shoots from 

 shrubs ; for by their luxuriancy they greatly im- 

 poverish the proper sized branches, which are the 



