HARDY SHRUBS AND TREES 163 



to remain dormant for two or three weeks aftei 

 planting and if a dry season follows the growth may 

 not be satisfactory unless water is supplied freely. 



Another point of importance in planting shrubbery 

 is to buy the stock of reliable florists or nurserymen. 

 It is seldom satisfactory to purchase of one's local 

 dealer unless one can see the plants in bloom and 

 know what he is getting. For this reason all large 

 nurserjmien guarantee their stock and are willing to 

 replace any that prove untrue to name or that, given 

 proper care, fail to grow. One's local florists are 

 seldom as liberal in this matter and, although one 

 saves freight or express by purchasing at home, the 

 other disadvantages often more than offset this. On 

 the other hand, most greenhouse plants, especially 

 bedding plants, are much better bought at home as 

 one receives much better value for the money. 



The matter of pruning shrubs is one which receives 

 much more attention and causes more anxiety than 

 it should. In my opinion more pruning is done than 

 is necessary. A few shrubs, like the hydrangea, re- 

 quire heavy pruning — about a third of the last year's 

 growth or, in the case of straggly, weak growths, one- 

 half should be removed in late winter or early spring. 

 This makes for stockier growth and larger panicles 

 of bloom. If a shrub is growing in a stocky, thrifty 

 manner there is little need of pruning other than to 

 keep it symmetrical. What pruning is done should 



