THE BOX-TREE. 99 



a green state ; therefore it must not be cut back before 

 the spring, say in April or May. The Savory (Winter 

 Savory) may be treated in the same way as the Thyme. 

 The Sage should be cut back, and then some manure 

 forked in. Rosemary and other shrubby herbs may be 

 done in the same manner. 



The Pruning and Cutting Back of the 

 Box- tree. 



The Box is a very ornamental class of trees. They 

 are generally clipped with the shears, and this may be 

 done without much disadvantage to the beauty of the 

 plants, but, as a rule, some sorts are by this method 

 divested of that peculiar feature which is so striking in 

 most of the varieties. The variegated kinds, especially 

 Variegata pendula, would be literally spoilt if clipped 

 with shears, and so would Balearica ; but the small- 

 leaved green varieties may be clipped. 



The ones named should be carefully cut over with the 

 knife, as by this method the leaves are preserved intact, 

 in which consists the beauty of all flowerless shrubs. 

 The pendulous sorts can never be clipped without a 

 serious loss. The kinds that may be clipped, as well as 

 Box edging, should be done not later than June — about 

 the third week in the month ; then they will have time 

 to get sufficient new growth to protect the parts ex- 

 posed by the clipping. If it is done later there is the 

 risk of the edgings or plant being exposed to frosts, and 

 being materially injured, if not killed by them. I 

 know of an instance of this at the present time. Some 

 Box edgings being clipped too late, the frosts have 

 injured them considerably, and they look very bad, as 

 though they had been scorched by fire. 



So many of these mistakes occur in pruning, clipping, 

 and cutting back the Box-tree, or through not doing it 

 at all, that I have been induced to make these remarks 

 on the matter. 



F 2 



