EVERGREEN SHRVBS. 



The Bay-tree and the Lattrestine. 



77 



Both of the above may be treated in a similar way as 

 regards the management of the plants, as they are some- 

 what alike in their constitution. To form good speci- 

 mens of each, some little attention must be paid to 

 them while they are young. Taking out the points of 

 the leaders for a few seasons will induce a bushy habit, 

 and cause the plants to feather themselves well down 

 to the ground, in which consists the beauty of all ever- 

 greens. If at any time either of these shrubs gets 

 overgrown and barren below, cut it quite down to 

 the ground, or to within a few inches of it, and an 

 entirely new plant will be formed. This cutting down 

 should be done in the months of March and April. It 

 must not be done in the autumn in cold counties, as 

 probably it would expose the stools to a severe frost, 

 which miaht kill them. 



The Holly. 



Some difficulty attends old Hollies in the pruning of 

 them, especially some of the choice sorts. If some of 

 the variegated kinds are allowed to get too old before 

 they are pruned into a pretty shape, it will prove fatal 

 to the beauty of the plants to cut them severely ; but if 

 the points of the shoots are taken off while they are 

 young, beautiful, symmetrical, and thick-foliaged speci- 

 mens may be formed. The Green Hollies, if cut quite 

 down to the ground, will throw up an abundance of 

 young shoots ; but this kind of pruning of the varie- 

 gated sorts can never be done safely, because they are 

 all grafted on the common green kind, and if they are 

 cut down to the stock they will throw up green stuff 

 instead of variegated foliage. 



The pruning of Hollies should be done through the 

 summer, when they are growing, but not too late. 

 Time should be given for them to make some growth at 

 the points. Nipping out the ends of the shoots is the 

 best way of pruning the Holly. 



