846 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [FcO. 



FEBRUARY. 



PLANTING DECIDUOUS SHRUBS AND TREES. 



The planting of all deciduous shrubs and trees on light 

 soils should now be finished as fast as possible. But, on soils 

 of a colder nature, they may be planted during the following 

 six weeks with success. Where it is intended to plant 

 largely, it will be well in either case to have all such as arc 

 intended to be planted taken up, and laid in by the heels, as 

 it is technically called, so that vegetation may be checked or 

 retarded until it be possible to have them planted. Evergreens 

 should not be planted at this time, unless for particular reasons, 

 as they are found to succeed much better when planted either 

 in August or April, and the beginning of May. However, 

 with care, these may be planted at this time where parti- 

 cularly wanted. At this season it is material that they be 

 kept out of the ground but as short a time as possible, and 

 that their roots be not exposed to frost or to cold cutting 

 winds. 



PRUNING SHRUBS AND TREES. 



Let the pruning of all shrubs and trees be now finished as 

 soon as possible, that the borders and grounds may be dug 

 or otherwise put in order for the season ; and, in performing 

 this operation, it is necessary, in the first place, to cut out all 

 dead or decaying wood, or spray, and to shorten in all the 

 shoots which may have been injured, or not sufficiently ripened, 

 to their extremities. Those shrubs which are naturally dis- 

 posed to grow bushy or crowded, should be thinned out par- 

 ticularly towards their centre, that the air may more readily 

 circulate among the remaining branches. Roses should be 

 headed down, leaving only a few inches of the last ycar*c 

 wood, which will make them break stronger, and flower more 

 abundantly; besides, hard pruning keeps them neat and within 

 proper bounds, without which they would soon become un- 



