40 PRUNING. [FEB. 



neatly about their roots. If, however, the shrubs 

 are in a bed, in which there are herbaceous 

 roots, it is better to use a fork than a spade, as 

 it is less likely to injure the roots that have net 

 yet appeared above ground. 



You will find the new plants require pruning 

 in a short time, particularly those which are of 

 quick growth ; on this point, perhaps, it will be 

 better to consult the gardener. I doubt wheth- 

 er I could give you any good general rules for 

 managing this part of the gardener's art: for 

 there are some trees which do not bear pruning 

 at all, such as the fir, larch, cypress, and cedar 

 tribe ; and on some plants the buds, which are 

 in the spring to produce flowers, are formed on 

 the old wood, as the shoots of the preceding 

 year are called ; such are the double-blossomed 

 peach, the syririga, &c. ; and thus you must be 

 careful what you cut away. 



