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THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



November. Old Camellias may be renovated by severely 

 cutting back, almost to mere stumps. 



The Oleander. 



The Oleander is an old favourite and of a very 

 enduring constitution. It will live and grow under all 

 kinds of treatment, but it requires an abundance of 

 water and some heat in order to produce good flowers. 

 There are few flowering shrubs more beautiful than the 

 Oleander, and I scarcely need describe it, as it is so well 

 known ; suffice it to say, then, that the flowers are of a 

 red, white, or pink colour, and are comparable to some 

 Eoses, the single kind being similar to a self- grown 

 Carnation. 



These plants flower in clusters, which are extremely 

 beautiful. They require some annual pruning by 

 severely cutting back the leading shoots and reserving 

 the lower laterals. This should be done immediately 

 after the flowering is over, which is about June, July, 

 or August, according to treatment. After the plant is 

 cut back shift it, give an abundance of water, and 

 subject it to a moist heat of 65° or 70° Fahr. to induce a 

 fresh growth, and when this is well developed discon- 

 tinue the heat for a few months till the flowering comes 

 on again. The Oleander will bear any amount of cutting 

 back. 



The Acacia. 



The greenhouse Acacias are both numerous and 

 beautiful ornamental shrubs, many of them being 

 splendid- foliaged plants, A. Lopkantha being among 

 the best. This class requires annual pruning to prevent 

 it getting beyond what is desirable. It is of a very free 

 growth and soon gets large. Nipping out the points of 

 the young shoots as the plant proceeds in growth is 

 necessary from the first stages of its growth as a young 

 plant, and to keep it dwarf it should be frequently cut 

 back. It will bear the knife well. 



The pruning should be done in the early spring, so as 



