124 
JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
trees, whether dwarfs or standards, it i-^ important that the centre be 
kept more or less open, and if spur-pruning be not the system adopted, 
not only the weakly growths, but, in the case of standards, those also 
which are to any extent exhausted must be removed, cutting them back 
to other young shoots, which will occupy their places. In the case of 
very large trees this system is, perhaps, of all others the best to pursue. 
Flowering and decorative trees and shrubs call for a passing notice. 
It is not the rule to alter to any great extent the natural habit of these 
by pruning, though hedges and objects of topiary art must necessarily 
be excepted. The operator has generally two points to bear in mind : 
either to prune in order to induce a rapid though normal growth, or to 
keep the plant within limited bounds without, at the same time, reducing 
its natural vigour. We may select, as an illustration, the common Haw- 
thorn. If it is wished to make it grow quickly to large dimensions all 
the pruning required after a proper foundation has been laid is the 
elision of the weaker shoots, leaving only the stronger. If, on the 
other hand, it is wanted to form a bush, it is necessary to make an 
annual examination, and with a knife to cut away a few of the stronger 
growing and outward tending branches, leaving others untouched to 
till the places of those removed. Bushes perfectly neat in appearance 
will be the result, and altogether without, what many people think, 
the ugly primness of those pruned with shears. Spiraea Bella provides 
a good example of a shrub that succeeds best when the whole or 
nearly the whole of the shoots which have flowered are cut clean away, 
leaving for the succeeding year's flowering only the strongest of the 
yearling growths. Hydrangea paniculata succeeds best when spur- 
pruned, and Caryopteris mastacanthus when the growths are moderately 
thinned, and those left cut back. 
As an example of a large tree, we may select a Copper Beech. It 
must be decided first of all whether it is intended that the branches should 
clothe the tree down to the ground, or whether a long, clean trunk 
is desired. In either case the central leading shoot must be favoured 
by removing, during the first ten or tv>'elve years, most of the twiggy 
side growths which hinder its progress. The main branches having 
been selected, they must be treated in a like manner ; and when once 
the tree has fairly " gone away," the leading stem and main branches 
will all but take care of themselves. In the case of a tree intended to 
produce a long and stately trunk, no branch should be allowed to 
predominate over others until the desired height has been attained. 
A.11 useless spray, however, should be removed from the branches, 
which again are best when rather widely disposed, and as growth 
progresses these also must be removed, cutting back close to the main 
stem in the operation. 
Careful pruning is helpful also to Conifers while they are still in a 
young state ; but nothing should be attempted beyond cutting back to 
the main stem those side branches which have been over-grown 
by a later tier, and it is only while the trees are yet small that even 
so much is required. I have induced the difficult Abies Veitchiana 
to produce a leader in place of a dead one by cutting back to healthy 
wood. Conifers readily lend themselves to clipping, but it is a practice 
