358 



PRUNCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



docs not imply that the spccnnen shall be clipped or 

 slicarcd 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 indi\-iduality 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 foli- 

 age is desired it is neces- 

 sary to cut back the 

 annual growths rather 

 freely toward spring so 

 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 fullv than might be the case if thcv 

 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 



FIG. 293— HUGE WOUND WELL MADE 

 There is no excuse for such enormous 

 wounds as this. Had the limb been cut otf 

 when the tree was small such a cut could 

 have been avoided ! The limb was so low 

 It interfered with traffic. Hence its removal. 

 The knife shown is fy'i inches long. Notice 

 that the wound is healing most rapidly from 

 the sides. 



