IX 



PESTS 



169 



renewal of growth, and we shall then see which of the 

 shoots that had not formed buds have been actually 

 "stopped." Those that grow straight away again as 

 before from the tip of the shoot are all right. Never 

 mind some leaves having been destroyed ; the shoots are 

 young and they will " grow out " of the injury, just as a 

 child will from a severe wound or accident. Those that 

 are stopped, and commence growth again from the side 

 buds, are not likely to produce exhibition blooms that 

 year ; but it is better to let the top bud grow and pinch 

 out all the others, if most of the shoots on the plant are 

 in the same condition, than to cut them all away or 

 severely back, as that must involve a severe check to 

 the roots and the strength of the plant. 



I am sure it is a mistake to cut away the shoots in a 

 hurry before fresh growth has shown how far the injury 

 has extended. It is better to put up with browned and 

 maimed foliage for a while than to risk destroying 

 a shoot that may yet recover. It is always sad to 

 suffer from not having "let well alone." A friend 

 of mine had a fine Wellingtonia, of which he was justly 

 proud, growing near his house. One year, to his 

 disgust, he found that it had developed two leaders ; he 

 naturally wished to cut one of them away, but the tree 

 was very tall, and too pliable and slender at the top to 

 bear the weight of a ladder. He was (and is) a capital 

 shot with rifle or gun ; and having an air-gun that threw 

 a bullet accurately, he determined to try and cut 

 off the offending shoot with it. He rested his weapon 

 on the sill of an upper window, took a very careful aim, 

 and with the first shot succeeded in doing what he 

 wanted — the false leader was cut off. Much pleased, he 

 now noticed there was another shoot that had somewhat 

 of an upward tendency, and would be better removed — 



