SE€ r. XII. 



OF PRUNING. 



167 



the fhortening is of no confequence, and the defired 

 form may be freely provided for at pleafure. 



The feafon for pruning ihrubs is generally reckoned 

 the Jprdngy but autumn is better, if not too near win- 

 ter; as at this time, (harp weather might occafion 

 fome of the forts, (as jaf mines and honeyfuckles) to die 

 down. The time of flowering, muft in fome meafure 

 direft the time of pruning. Shrubs that flower in 

 winter, (as the lauruftinus,) fhould be cut in fpring, 

 Thofe that flower in fpring may be pruned immediately 

 after their blow, or in fummer. Thofe that flower 

 in fummer fhould be pruned in autumn ; and thofe that 

 flower in .autumn fhould be pruned either foon after 

 flowering, or in fpring. 



Be fure to take off in time, i. e. as foon as disco- 

 vered, all fuckers and over ftrong fhoots from fhrubs ; 

 for by their luxuriancy they greatly impoverifli the 

 proper fized branches, which are the fruitful ones, 

 and fuch large fappy wood looks very unfightly. 



The height of fhrubs in certain fituations, is ma- 

 terial, and to provide for this, the art of pruning is in 

 a great meafure competent. To keep them low, cutting 

 down is of courfe neceflary ; but it will be well alfo 

 to make the foil poor if too rich. To encourage them 

 to mount, keep trimming off clofe the lower branches, 

 and improve the ground by digging and dreffing occa* 

 fionally. 



Flowering fhrubs fhould be better attended to, as to 

 •pruning, than they commonly are ; for we fometimes 

 lee them either wholly neglected, or cut down at ran- 

 dom, perhaps pnly fheared into a little form; and fo 

 they make a return quite fuitable to the defert of the 

 owner for his negleft. To be erouding full of branches, 

 prevents the produftion of flowers. Shrubs fhould not 

 Be choaked up from fun and air, either in themfelves, 

 or by their neighbours : The larger plants mufl not be 

 iuffered to oveilfliadow the lefs } if poflible. 



The 



