36 ELLWANGER & BARRY'S 



WHEN TO PLANT. 



Deciduous Trees, Shrubs and Vines can be planted either in Spring or Fall. In locali- 

 ties where the winters are very severe we recommend Spring planting. Spring is the best 

 time for evergreens generally. 



HOW TO PLANT. 



Preparation of the Roots. — Cut off smoothly all bruised or broken roots up to the 

 sound wood. This prevents their decaying and hastens the emission of nejv roots and fibres. 



Preparation of the Top. — This consists in cutting back the top and side branches 

 in such a way as to correspond with the more or less mutilated roots, as follows: 



Trees with branching heads, should have the small branches cut clean out, and the 

 larger ones, intended for the frame work of the tree, cut back till within two or three buds 

 of their base. 



In cases where there is an abundant root, and small top or few branches, the pruning 

 need be very light, but where the roots are small and the top heavy, severe pruning will be 

 necessary. These remarks are applicable to all deciduous Trees and Shrubs. Evergreens 

 seldom require pruning, but Arbor Vitse and other Evergreens planted in hedge rows may 

 be advantageously shorn immediately after planting. 



Directions for planting, mulching, staking and after culture, same as for fruit trees (see 

 Hints in Fruit Department). 



PRUNING. 



Pruning, as practiced by some people, has the effect to render trees and shrubs unnat- 

 ural and inelegant. We refer to the custom of shearing trees, particularly conifers, into 

 cones, pyramids and other unnatural shapes. Every tree, shrub and plant has a habit of 

 growth peculiar to itself, and this very peculiarity is one of its beauties. If we prune all 

 trees into regular shapes we destroy their identity. The pruning knife, therefore, should be 

 used to assist nature, and handled with judgment and care; to lop off' straggling branches, 

 to thin the head of a tree which has become too dense, and to remove dead wood. Some- 

 times it becomes necessary to prune severely to keep a tree from attaining too great size. 



Shearing" may be practiced on hedges, but never on trees or shrubs. 



PRUNING SHRUBS. 



Many persons trim and shear them into regular shapes, imagining that regular outline 

 adds to their effect and beauty. "While symmetry and regularity of form are to be admired 

 in a shrub, this quality should never be gained at the expense of health and natural grace. 



Each shrub has peculiarities of habit and foliage, and we should aim to preserve them as 

 far as possible. Judicious pruning to secure health and vigor is necessary, but trimming 

 all kinds of shrubs into one form shows a lack of appreciation for natural beauty, to say 

 the least. Weigelas, Deut/ias, Forsythias and Mock Orange, flower on the 'wood of the 

 preceding year's growth, hence these shrubs should not be pruned in winter or spring, but 

 in June, after they have finished flowering, when the old wood should be shortened or cut 

 out, thus promoting the growth of the young wood, which is to flower the following season. 



Spira3as, Lilacs, Althaeas, and Honeysuckles may be trimmed during the winter or early 

 in spring, but the branches should only be reduced enough to keep them in good shape. 

 The old growth should be occasionally thinned out and the suckers and root sprouts 

 removed when they appear. The best time, however, for pruning all shrubs is when they 

 have done flowering. The Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora should be severely cut back 

 and thinned early in spring. 



PRUNING EVERGREENS. 



Use the knife occasionally to thicken the growth and preserve the shape. This can be 

 done in April or May, just before the trees start to grow. 



