SECT. XII. OF PRUNING. 177 



fruitful ones; such large sappy wood looks also 

 unsightly. 



The height of shrubs in certain situations, is ma- 

 terial, and to provide for this, the art of pruning is 

 in a great measure competent. To keep them low, 

 cutting down is of course necessary ; but it will be 

 well also to make the soil poor if too rich. To en- 

 courage them to mount, keep trimming off close the 

 lower branches, and improve the ground by digging 

 and dressing occasionally. 



Flowering shrubs should be attended to, as to 

 pruning, than they commonly are ; for we sometimes 

 see them either wholly neglected, or cut down at 

 random, perhaps only sheared into a little form ; and 

 so they make a return quite suitable to the desert of 

 the owner for his neglect. To be crouding full of 

 branches, prevents the production of flowers. Shrubs 

 should not be choaked up from sun -and air, either in 

 themselves, or by their neighbours : The larger plants 

 must not be suffered to overshadow the less, if 

 possible. 



The general directions already given for pruning 

 shrubs might suffice, but that the young gardener 

 may not have to discover (by observation alone) the 

 proper application of the given rules, he is here 

 particularly directed to the work of pruning a Jew of 

 the more common sorts. 



Roses bear upon shoots of the present year, and 

 upon those formed after Midsummer in the past year, 

 but chiefly upon the former. Therefore, they may, 

 or rather should be cut down low, leaving only three 

 or four eyes io a shoot ; except some of those short 

 shoots formed the last year too late to blow then, 

 which leave whole. If rose trees are not close pruned 

 they will be unable to support their flowers properly. 

 Use a sharp knife and cut close behind an eye or 



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