MANAGEMENT OF OLD TREES 57 
gone, as it is extremely dangerous to clip before that 
period has passed. ‘There is nothing more injurious to 
newly clipped boxwood than sharp frosts. I have seen 
boxwood that was over a hundred years old clipped in 
April, with the result that a few sharp frosty nights 
killed the whole of it. 
Excepting during the clipping season, there is very 
little work to be done to the trees in a Topiary garden, 
unless it is top-dressing them with some sort of manure, 
or keeping a look-out for branches that have become 
loose through wind or some other cause. If this occurs, 
the branches should be immediately tied back into their 
places before any injury takes place to the tree. 
There is another danger that should be strictly 
guarded against in winter, and that is, the danger the 
trees undergo in the event of heavy falls of snow. 
When the trees are old and large and in every way 
adapted for carrying a heavy weight of snow, no time 
should be lost in getting it removed as quickly as 
possible; the sooner the men get to work the better, 
even before the snow has ceased if it is at all likely 
to be a heavy fall. The labour of having to go over 
the trees two or three times must not be considered if 
they are to be saved from injury. It is much better 
to keep constantly knocking the snow off with light 
switches, than take the risk of having the trees crushed 
out of shape and broken. 
