done with a sharp knife and not with pruning 

 shears, for about nine times out of ten the pruning 

 knife is not as sharp as it should be, and it splits 

 and shreds the shrub in doing its work, whilst 

 even pruning shears that are not as sharp as they 

 should be can at most only bruise the part with 

 which they come in contact. Where roots are 

 too heavy to use the pruning shears, a small 

 curved saw, about an inch wide, will do the work 

 quickly and well. 



TOPIARY WORK 



And while we are speaking of pruning, I wish 

 to make a plea for the trees, and the hedges, and 

 all the evergreens. Do let us put an end to chop- 

 ping and clipping them into all sorts of peculiar 

 shapes and grotesque forms. Some time ago I 

 read in a garden magazine an absurd article ; the 

 author seems to think there is no art in gardening 

 except to cut a tree or shrub into the shape of birds 

 and dogs and of a " cocked hat." (I cannot believe 



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