SPRING AND FALL MANAGEMENT. 107 



or shrubs, is to take particular notice of the natural shape or 

 habit of the plant to be pruned. This will be found to be 

 different in almost every different kind of plants ; for instance, 

 in some plants we find them naturally to assume an upright 

 habit ; in others, a straggling ; and in some, a weeping. The 

 first is exemplified in the Hose of Sharon; the second, in the 

 Rose and Snowberry ; and the third, in the Weeping Wil- 

 low, Cherry, and the like. 



To retain these habits, and improve the symmetry of plants 

 in such a manner that the sun and air may have as much 

 as possible a regular access to every pait of them, is the 

 leading principle of pruning; for although in many cases the 

 natural habits of shrubs and plants are cramped into unnatu- 

 ral forms, in order to give variety of effect, it cannot be re- 

 commended to be followed as a general rule ; for whenever 

 the natural habits of trees or plants are distorted into unna- 

 tural forms or positions, it has more the appearance of 

 mockery than reality. Nature, in this and every other case, 

 should be as much as possible copied and assisted, but never 

 cramped into unnatural forms and positions. 



The natural habits of the plant being noticed, the next thing 

 is to examine and cut out all the dead wood. In this opera- 

 tion, the pruner must not be deceived, and disfigure the plant 

 by cutting out such shoots as will require to be left to fill the 

 vacancies of the dead wood in the growing season. The 

 dead wood being taken out, the next thing is to prune the 

 plant in a regular manner, by cutting out all the weakly 

 shoots, and thinning in such a manner that the sun and air 

 have a free access to every part : all long straggling shoots 

 should be taken off, that the shrubs or vines may have a 

 regular, compact appearance. In performing this operation, 

 sharp knives and instruments should be used, that the wounds 

 may be cut clean and heal freely. 



Training all kinds of vines, as Honeysuckles, Clematis, 

 Bignonia, and the like, may be done with despatch, in order 

 that every thing may have a neat and cleanly appearance. 



