MARY LEAKNS PRUNING 99 



of that one ; besides, he should branch outward, 

 where there is room in plenty, not inward, where 

 there is little. The flowers can only come outside, 

 where there is sun and air, not inside, where there 

 is none. That is why we ' thin it,' we say." 



"Let me cut one, Mr. Trommel," begged Mary. 



"Well, well," assented the old man, "it is only 

 forsythia. You will need two hands for the shears, 

 I think -so." 



"That branch is bothering that one," decided the 

 under-gardener, "and we take off the least prettiest 

 one, don't we? and it 's an ingrowing branch, 

 too." 



Herr Trommel nodded approval. 



"Do not leave a snag." 



"What is a 'snag'?" 



"A snag is where you do not cut off 

 the branch close, when you cut it 

 so." 



Mary shut her eyes in an intensity of effort as 

 she brought the pruning-shears together. "I cut it 

 close ! But it 's quite hard work, Mr. Trommel," she 

 confessed, handing back the shears. 



"That is a frequent difficulty with work, little 

 one," admitted the old man. 



