FLORICULTURE 525 



Objects to be Attained in Pruning. In the pruning of orna- 

 mental plants, in general, perhaps the most important consideration 

 to be kept in mind is that of allowing the natural or characteristic 

 shape of the variety of tree in question to assert itself, for the beauty 

 of a particular plant lies in its individuality and distinctness from 

 other plants. Of what consequence is it to set different varieties of 

 plants about one's home and then proceed to make them look as 

 much alike as possible by hard and fast cutting? In the case of 

 trees of the same species one should select an ideal or typical speci- 

 men, and prune the others toward that end. 



Ornamental pruning, therefore, should be directive or con- 

 structive, rather than destructive. Trees like the Lombardy poplar 

 or Italian cypress that grow naturally upright should be encouraged 

 in that habit, while those with graceful, spreading forms like the 

 pepper should not be forced into artificial shapes by severe and con- 

 tinuous trimming and shearing, for all such attempts are certain to 

 result in the end in aesthetic failure. Likewise one should not ex- 

 pect to make a tree out of a shrub, nor the reverse. In the extensive 

 and interesting grounds at Del Monte, California, trees of most 

 diverse forms and habits have had their individualities preserved to 

 a remarkable extent by intelligent pruning, and this in spite of the 

 fact that it was often necessary to do heavy cutting among the in- 

 digenous trees already growing on the grounds. In many instances 

 one-fourth to one-third of a tree has been cut away without chang- 

 ing perceptibly its appearance, or that of the surroundings, so skill- 

 fully was the work done. 



Coniferous evergreens such as cedars, cypresses, spruces and 

 pines : Little pruning is needed by these plants at any stage of their 

 growth. The limbs of the trunk should be left intact from the 

 ground up, so as not to destroy the symmetry of the tree. Likewise, 

 the central stem or leader should not be touched, and if by accident 

 the terminal bud is destroyed, the most promising branch of the 

 nearest lower whorl should be tied erect to take its place, and the re- 

 maining laterals of this whorl cut back or removed entirely to make 

 certain its development into a leader. The occasional cutting back 

 of limbs of evergreen should be done in the spring, since pruning 

 at this season induces extra growth, and also encourages the develop- 

 ment of new buds for further growth at the cut ends. Occasional 

 lateral branches that make an extra strong growth may have their 

 soft wood pinched back during mid-summer to preserve uniformity, 

 or, if this is not enough they may be cut back in the spring to a 

 strong bud. Evergreens should never be trimmed in the fall, and 

 the older wood should not be cut. 



Shrubs and Vines. Shrubs like the oleander, privet, and myr- 

 tle, require pruning to remove dead or unhealthy growth, thin out 

 and cut back the stems, overcome occasional straggly habits, and 

 also to keep them within reasonable bounds in relation to their sur- 

 roundings. They should be trimmed so as to have an easy and 

 natural appearance, rather than a strict or artificial one. Ordinarily, 

 they appear best when only the branches lying next, to the ground 



