PRUNING HARDY SHRUBS, 



29 



either immediately after flowering or during autumn and early 

 spring. 



Hamamelis or Witch Hazels. — ^These are slow-growing plants, 

 but, flowering as they do in mid- winter, are extremely valuable. They 

 require very httle pruning, which, when necessary, should be done 

 after flowering. 



Leycesteria formosa is best pruned to the ground annually, when 

 it will be found to produce strong growth and a wealth of blossom 

 during late summer and autumn. 



Paeonia Moutan, from which the Tree Paeonies are derived. They 

 are slow growers, and the chief pruning required is to see that the stocks 

 on which they are generally worked do not get the better of the variety. 

 The seed-pods should be taken off immediately after flowering. 



Ahelias. — ^Though a little tender, these plants are worthy of culti- 

 vation by all. Except for occasional knifing in after flowering, they 

 require httle further pruning. 



The Lead Plant, Amorpha canescens, and the False Indigo, 

 A. fmticosa, natives of the United States, are somewhat straggling 

 growers, and should be severely pruned annually to keep them within 

 bounds. 



Chimonanthus fragrans, known as Winter Sweet or Winter Flower, 

 from China and Japan. I have never before seen this winter-flowering 

 shrub so beautiful as it was during the past month of January. 

 When seen on a fine day, covered with its beautiful, fragrant blossoms, 

 it is a sight to be remembered. It should be treated in the same 

 manner as Calycanthus. 



The Corylopsis are somewhat slow-growing plants, though very 

 beautiful. When it is found that these are not growing away satis- 

 factorily, we have found it a good plan to cut them down close to the 

 ground, much as one would a Hazel, the first week in April, after which 

 they invariably grow away freely and make fine plants. 



Forsythias are amongst our most beautiful, yellow, early-flowering 

 shrubs, and may always be rehed upon to give a wealth of blossom. 

 They require pretty hard pruning as soon as the flowering season is 

 over. 



The Euonymus all respond well to pruning, which should be done 

 in early spring. 



The Pearl Bushes, Exochorda. — ^These should be allowed plenty of 

 room, as they grow very strongly and make large bushes when in good 

 soil. When pruning is necessary it should be done directly after 

 flowering. 



The Sweet Gale, Myrica Gale, should always be included in a 

 collection of shrubs on account of its delicious fragrance. Very little 

 pruning is necessary, beyond keeping the shrubs in shape, and this 

 should be done in early spring. 



Hypericums of sorts do not, as a rule, require a lot of pruning, but 

 it is quite safe to knife them pretty hard when the necessity arises. 



Diervillas or Weigelas require pruning occasionally to keep the 



