26 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



surface soon heals over, whereas a rough one holds moisture which 

 frequently means the beginning of decay, and through such cuts 

 fungi may enter the tissue of the plant. For this reason it is a 

 wise precaution to paint over with gas-tar all cut surfaces of more 

 than an inch in diameter, as, in addition to keeping out moisture, 

 fungus spores, and insects, it renders the cut surface less conspicuous 

 than would be the case if it were left as cut. A light, strong pair 

 of steps is useful for pruning subjects that cannot be reached from 

 the ground, and which it is desirable to prune with knife or secateurs 

 rather than with a tree-pruner. 



Arbutus XJnedo. — ^This beautiful shrub, a native of Southern Europe 

 and also found wild in Ireland, requires little pruning except to 

 keep it in a shapely condition. But when, through overcrowding, it 

 is allowed to become straggling, it can safely be cut hard back to 

 within 2 feet or 3 feet of the ground during winter or early spring, 

 when it will be found to break freely and eventually make a fine 

 plant. 



The Chilian Aristotelia Macqui and its variety variegata are 

 charming evergreen shrubs and should be cultivated in all gardens, 

 except in very cold situations. Like the foregoing, they require but 

 little pruning. 



Barberries, which are increasing in popularity, and of which there 

 are a large number of evergreen and deciduous species, all answer 

 well to pruning and will break freely from young wood or old. Such 

 species as Berberis japonica, which frequently become unsightly-looking, 

 may be cut to the ground early in spring, when they will be found to 

 make splendid growth and shapely plants in a short time. 



Many of the newer choice species from China quickly make 

 splendid specimens and require but little pruning. Unfortunately, 

 some of the more choice varieties are frequently worked on the 

 common B, vulgaris stock, a practice which certainly should be 

 condemned, as the greatest care possible is needed to prevent the 

 stock outgrowing the variety. 



Bupleurum fruticosum, or Hare's-ear, is a beautiful shrub from the 

 Mediterranean region and is not grown nearly as largely as it deserves 

 to be, probably owing to the fact that, when planted in a mixed 

 shrubbery and treated as the majority of shrubs are, it becomes an 

 unsightly and weedy-looking object. If, however, it is severely pruned 

 annually in March it produces a wealth of fine flower-heads during 

 late summer, and at all times its beautiful glaucous foliage renders it a 

 conspicuous object. 



Aucuba japonica and its varieties require little pruning when in a 

 young state, but all answer well to the knife, and large, old specimens 

 may be cut down to the ground during early spring, when they will 

 be found to put forth strong, vigorous young growth, producing fine 

 foliage. 



Escallonias. — Some of the newer varieties of the Escallonias make 

 delightful specimens when nicely arranged about^the shrubberies, and 



