24 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PRUNING HARDY SHRUBS. 

 By E. Beckett, V.M.H. 



[Read March 24, 1914 ; Prof. F. Keeble, M.A., F.R.S., in the Chair.] 



The study of horticulture is undoubtedly very fascinating, and of the 

 very many different branches of the subject there is none more so 

 than that dealing with Hardy Shrubs, nor one, I should imagine, 

 that numbers so many devoted adherents in the present day. 



The love of outdoor gardening, which has become so apparent in 

 the last decade or two, is largely responsible for the great interest 

 taken, especially by amateurs, in ornamental shrubs, but a great 

 impetus has been given in this direction by the introduction to our 

 gardens during the last few years of so many beautiful and distinct 

 new species and varieties from the Far East. 



For many years to come the problem of cultivating and proving 

 the adaptability of the Chinese introductions to the climate of Great 

 Britain will afford the keenest pleasure to all who take more than a 

 passing interest in the art. I have been privileged to grow a large 

 number of Mr. Wilson's introductions, and it is very satisfactory to be 

 able to record that the large majority of shrubs collected during his 

 first three expeditions have proved themselves perfectly hardy, and 

 beautiful additions to our gardens. 



The introductions emanating from British and Continental 

 nurseries in the past few years have been confined principally to 

 certain genera, such as the Lilacs, Philadelphus, and Deutzias, the 

 large majority being improvements on previously existing varieties. 



The pruning of shrubs was until recently looked upon as necessary 

 in some cases, but all too frequently it was left to an inexperienced 

 workman who, it was thought, could do all that was required with 

 a pair of shears once a year, and, alas ! this is often the case even 

 now. Thanks, however, to the experiments which have been made 

 in many private and some national gardens, the results of good and 

 bad pruning have clearly demonstrated that careful and intelligent 

 pruning is as necessary to shrubs as careful and intelligent planting. 



The correct pruning of shrubs is important for several reasons, and 

 competency can only be acquired by actual practice and a careful 

 study of individual requirements. 



While no specific rule can be laid down, it is safe to say that nearly 

 all deciduous shrubs produce their blossoms in the spring and early 

 summer months on young wood of the previous year's growth, and 

 these are improved and stimulated by having the flowering stems 

 cut away entirely as soon as the blossoms have fallen, so that 



