96 THE FRUIT-TREE AMD SHRUB PRUNER. 



not much like them in their general appearance. 

 But as all natural orders are founded upon structural 

 affinity, the Andromeda resembles the Heath in the 

 flower, though not in the foliage. The strong-growing 

 kinds need cutting back to induce compactness of habit 

 and uniformity of growth, such as Floribunda, a general 

 favourite, which merely requires stopping the leading 

 shoots to form a handsome dwarf plant. It delights in 

 peat soil and is an abundant flowerer, well worthy of 

 a small bed in the parterre, or as a front row round a 

 Rhododendron or an Azalea bed. Old Andromeda 

 plants may be cut back when they require to be 

 renovated. 



The Lavender. 



The Lavender is a general favourite, and is much cul- 

 tivated for an essence made from it. It is also used for 

 perfuming ladies' wardrobes, &c, the flowers being dried 

 for that purpose. It will grow in almost any kind of 

 soil, but delights most in good light ground. 



The Lavender requires to be cut back every season, 

 in order to keep the plants of a dwarf character and 

 well feathered with foliage below. Severe cutting is 

 never necessary except m cases of old, overgrown, and 

 neglected plants ; merely cutting back a few inches in 

 the month of March is all that is required to preserve 

 compactness of character in the plant, and to insure a 

 vigorous growth, so that it will produce a fine bloom. 



Plants raised from seed are more productive of flowers 

 than those grown from slips or cuttings. The first and 

 second seasons after they are raised the seedlings should 

 be cut pretty close back to induce a dwarf and bushy 

 habit. The plants may be cut back after the flowering 

 is over if previously omitted, for late pruning of the 

 lavender will not do for the flowers. 



The Spiraea. 



The Spiraeas are a beautiful class of plants, very little 

 grown, except the Japonica and one or two more ; but 



