360 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



bloomers in water in a warm room during winter. In a 

 few days to a few weeks the buds will burst into bloom. 



The first rule of pruning flowering shrubs and trees is 

 based on this habit of bloom production. If the branches 

 are cut back severely in autumn, winter or early spring, 

 a large proportion of the blossom buds will thus be de- 

 stroyed. In cases of severest cutting few or no flowers 



may be produced, 

 partly because of 

 their removal and 

 partly because the 

 bush or tree will 

 make an efifort to 

 develop new wood 

 (81, 83). 



The converse of 

 this practice is the 

 correct method; 

 namely, pruning im- 

 mediately after the 

 blossoming season 

 haspassed. Thusthe 

 new shoots produced 

 will have thebalance 

 of the season in-which 

 to develop new shoots 

 largely from buds 

 near the bases of the 

 branches, and upon 

 these shoots abun- 

 dance of blossom 

 buds will form and make a splendid display the following 

 spring. 



Shrubs and trees of the second group — althaea, hy- 

 drangea, clematis, elder and certain roses — which bloom 

 in summer and autumn, form their blossom buds on 

 growths of the present season. Since some of these are 



FIG. 295— GOLDEN BELL— FORSYTHIA 



One of the earliest spring blooming; stirubs. 

 Note that the branch buds are only just starting. 

 In some cases they are opposite the Howers, in 

 o.hers terminaL and in still others opposite each 

 other near the terminal buds. Several flowers 

 were cut from each of these twigs so the details 

 would show in the picture. 



