ELLWANGER & BARRY'S CATALOGUE. 



PRUXIXG. 



Pruning, as practiced bv some people, has the effect to render trees and shrubs 

 unnatural and inelegant. TVe refer to the custom of shearing trees, particularly con- 

 ifers, 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. Sometimes it becomes necessary to prune severely to keep 

 a tree from attaining too great size. 



SlieariDg' may be practiced ou hedges, but never on trees or shrubs. 



PRUXIXG SHKUBS. 



Many persons trim and shear them into regular shapes, imagining that regular out»>^ 

 line adds to their effect and beauty. Wliile symmetry and regularity of form are to be 

 admired in a skrub, this quality should never be gained at the expense of health and 

 natural grace. Each shrub has pecaliarities of habit and foliage, and we should aim 

 to preserve them as far as possible. Judicious pruning to secuire 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, Deutzias, 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. 



SpiTteas, Lilacs, Althfeas, and Honeysuckles may be trimmed, diu-ing 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 Plumed Hydrangea should be severely cut back 

 and thinned early in spring. 



PRUXIXG EVERGREENS. 



Use ihe 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. 



