358 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



does not imply that the specimen shall be clipped or 

 sheared into some artificial shape. It means merely keep- 

 ing the plant within bounds, but allowing it perfect free- 

 dom within those limits. In all such pruning it must be 

 remembered that each shrub has its own peculiar beauty 

 an individuality which should be retained. No pruning 

 which destroys this beauty should be practiced, at least 



where there is no defi- 

 nite reason for so doing 

 and such cases are 

 rare. 



When it is necessary 

 to compel the plants to 

 take fantastic forms, the 

 young growths must be 

 sheared several times 

 during the growing 

 season, as well as once 

 during late winter or 

 early spring, as in the 

 case of hedges. When 



exceptionally good feli- 

 ne. 293-HUGE WOUND WELL MADE js ^^ ^ ^ n ^_ 

 There is no excuse for such enormous f , 



wounds as this. Had the limb been cut off sary to Cllt back the 

 when the tree was small such a cut could , ,1 



have been avoided! The limb was so low annual growths rather 



i interfered with traffic. Hence its removal. ft-^1, r f/^^rarrl crrintr co 



The knife shown is 6$4 inches long. Notice treelV toward Spring J 



the* sides w und ' s heaHng most rap5dly from as to encourage the for- 

 mation of wood (83). 



When flowers are sought, special note must be made of 

 the blossom-bearing habit of the plant. A few funda- 

 mental rules will aid the pruner to make a success of this 

 kind of work. When sturdy branches are pinched or 

 clipped back during summer the remaining wood will 

 ripen much more fully than might be the case if they 

 were allowed to grow naturally. So the parts should 

 stand the winter better than if unpruncd. This applies 

 more especially to semi-hardy and tender trees and 



