VERY letter, "Amateur Gardeners," will be answered — 

 every garden need, every garden problem that confronts 

 you, puzzles you or worries you, write about it, and if I 

 cannot help you solve it, I will see to it that those who 

 " specialize in that particular problem, need or worry of 



yours will do so. 



NEW AND OLD WOOD OF SHRUBS 

 Q, I do not understand how to tell the new wood of shrubs 

 from the old. 



A. The new wood is comparatively thin, flexible and green, 

 or greenish brown in color ; wood one year old is brown and firm, 

 and the bark is smooth and clear, and the old wood is dark and 

 the bark is rough and dull. 



* * * 



HYBRID LILACS NOT BLOOMING 

 Q. My hybrid lilacs did not bloom this Spring. I noticed that 

 the old flower sprays were still there. Should they have been 

 taken off ? 



A. Yes, indeed they should. All lilac sprays and panicles 

 should be cut away when faded to prevent seed from maturing. 

 This is very necessary and so quickly done that I cannot under- 

 stand why it is neglected, as it is the "seeding" and not the "flow- 

 ering" that exhausts any plant. 



60 



