26 



FERTILIZING PRUNING. 



dry and exposed to the hot sun, it is in great danger 

 of being fatally burned. 



No liquid fertilizer should ever be applied to a 

 plant until it has formed working roots and is in a 

 growing state. 



PRUNING. 



The symmetry of many plants depends upon the 

 care and taste exercised by the gardener in pinch- 

 ing or pruning the shoots at the proper time. Most 

 plants need pinching when the shoots are young 

 to make them branch and form a compact growth ; 

 others require to be thinned out. All ill-shaped 

 branches or those which grow out of place should 

 be carefully cut off. After pruning the wood of 

 plants from which the sap excudes, the cut part 

 may be seared with a hot iron or the flow stopped 

 by applying earth to the wound, 



Many plants, as Fuchsias and Heliotropes, may 

 be grown in any shape to suit the fancy by careiul 

 pruning and training. 



It is usually best to prune away the old wood, 

 as new branches appear. Suckers, or branches 

 which spring from the base of the stalk should be 

 removed. 



