HEDGE PRUNING 133 
Shrubs which flower on the old. wood are usually the first to open in 
spring, whiist those flowering on the wood made the same year 
could only do so from midsummer onwards. From such a decided 
difference in the nature of flowering shrubs, it is obvious that the 
pruning must. vary accordingly. Thus to prune a Golden Bell 
(Forsythia) in early March as one would prune a H.P. Rose would 
be the height of folly, since the Forsythia flowers in spring on 
last year’s wood, whilst the Rose flowers in the summer on the 
current year’s growth. 
Now there are many shrubs like the Forsythia which need similar 
treatment ; for example, Deutzias, Lilacs, and Weigelas, and it is in 
the care of these shrubs that summer pruning should be adopted. 
The growths of Mock Orange and Spiraea are thinned out soon after 
tlowering, and the same applies to Forsythia. By cutting out the 
wood which has flowered, the young shoots have a better chance. 
Rhododendrons need very little pruning as arule ; some varieties, how- 
ever, are inclined to grow a little too freely, a failing which may be 
‘remedied by judicious cutting back in the summer. Pruning should 
always be done with a well sharpened, strong knife, or in the case 
of large branches with a small hand saw. Secateurs are apt to 
pinch and bruise the wood, and shears should only be used for clip- 
ping hedges. 
One must not omit reference to the winter and summer flower- 
ing Jasmines, Honeysuckle, Clematis Jackmanii, purple, July 
and August; C. montana, white, April; Yuccas, Rosemary, and 
Lavender. In recent years great interest has centred in the intro- 
duction of new flowering shrubs from China. Among the best of 
these are Jasminum primulinum, Buddleia variabilis, and a number 
of ornamental Vines. 
