76 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



the effect quite at variance with what it is capable of 

 producing as an ornamental shrub of the first character 

 among evergreens. 



Whenever the Portugal Laurel gets out of order, or 

 too large, cut it back to what is desired. If it is cut 

 into the blank and barren wood it does not matter, it 

 will break again quite freety from the budless wood ; 

 so that let a plant be ever so old, no fear need be enter- 

 tained as to whether it may be fatal to cut it back quite 

 into the barren and leafless wood. I mention this par- 

 ticularly, because I have found those who have been 

 diffident about severely cutting back old Portugal 

 Laurels. 



The Arbutus. 



The Arbutus is a shrub that will soon get barren 

 of foliage below if not prevented from doing so by due 

 attention. Generally we find the Arbutus an eyesore 

 in good grounds rather than a beautiful evergreen 

 ornament, bearing both flowers and scarlet strawberry- 

 like fruit at one and the same time. To prevent it 

 becoming barren in this way some annual pruning 

 will be necessary. As soon as the plant has grown to, 

 say, two feet high, nip out the leaders of all the prin- 

 cipals, and continue to do so every summer or early in 

 the spring ; by this means a handsome and symmetri- 

 cal plant may be maintained for an indefinite period. 

 An old barren plant may be renovated by cutting it 



quite down to within a 



foot of the ground, or by 



shortening in the limbs, 



similar to Fig. 62. The 



line a indicates where an 



old Arbutus may be cut 



down to, if not past age 



and not decayed. It will 



Fig. C2. generally give young 



growth at the base after 



being cut down, if it is sound. Early in the spring is 



the best time to do this. 



