CHAPTER XIII. 



CARE OF TREES AND SHRUBS 



CONTRARY to the general idea, trees and shrubs,, 

 when once set in place, respond to intelligent care. 

 While they may live and grow without it, tillage is essen- 

 tial to the best results. This subject will be briefly treated 

 under the headings, Propagation, Transplanting, Prun- 

 ing, and Care. 



PROPAGATION 



There are many ways of propagating plants. The 

 commonest are by seeds, cuttings, layering, and grafting. 

 Annual plants are propagated almost wholly by seeds. 

 Trees and shrubs may be propagated in the same way. 

 The seeds may be planted in the autumn from one to two- 

 inches apart in rows in any well prepared soil. A sandy 

 loam containing much humus is the best. Some seeds do 

 not germinate the first year. The young seedings must 

 be kept weeded and the soil well tilled. Reproduction by 

 means of cuttings is a quicker method for many kinds of 

 shrubs, although but few trees readily reproduce in this 

 way in our northern climate. 



CUTTINGS 



Soft cuttings of shrubs are best made from new growth 

 between first of July and middle of August. Take the ends 

 of twigs about four inches long. Make a clean cut on the 

 lower end with a clean, sharp knife. Trim off the side 

 leaves and if the top ones are large cut off the upper half- 

 Fill a gardener's "flat" or any box about four inches deep, 

 with an inch of cinders or small brickbats for drainage 

 and then fill the box with clean, sharp mason's sand. 

 Press the sand down and wet it. Set the cuttings in rows 

 making the opening with a knife or stick. Put them two 

 to three inches deep, and as thick as they will stand. The 



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