THE CHASE NURSERIES, GENEVA, N. Y. 
Trees for Spring Planting Only— While most 
Itinds of trees can be safely transplanted in 
the Fall, there are a few that are rarely suc- 
cessful unless carefully moved in the Spring; 
the Birches, the Beeches, Japanese Maples, the 
Larches, Magnolias, Tulip Trees, Flowering 
Cherries and Peaches, Judas Tree, the Oaks, 
Sweet Gum and all Nut-bearing trees. 
There is no surplus of really high-grade 
Nursery^ Stock in the market today; we there- 
fore warn our customers against trees and 
plants oU'ered at ridiculously low rates. Poor 
stock is dear at any price. 
Deciduous Trees, Shrubs and Vines can be 
planted in Spring or Fall. In the far north, 
where the weather is too severe, plant in the 
Spring. Evergreens should be set out in Spring. 
Care in Planting 
Preparation of the Roots. — Cut off smooth- 
ly all bruised or broken roots up to the sound 
wood. This prevents their decaying and 
hastens the emission of new roots and fibres. 
Preparation of the Top. — This consists in 
cutting back the top and side branches in 
such a way as to correspond with the more or 
less mutilated roots, as follows: Trees with 
branching heads should have the small 
branches cut clean out, and the larger ones, 
intended for the framework of the tree, cut 
back to within two or three buds of their base. 
In cases where there is an abundant root and 
small top or few branches, the pruning need 
be very light, but where the roots are small 
and the top heavy, severe pruning will be 
necessary. These remarks are applicable to 
all deciduous Trees and Shrubs. Evergreens 
seldom require pruning, but Arbor Vitae and 
other Evergreens planted in hedge rows may be 
advantageously shorn immediately after plant- 
ing. 
Pruning. — Pruning has the effect to render 
trees and shrubs unnatural and inelegant. We 
refer to the custom of shearing trees, particu- 
larly conifers, into cones, pyramids and other 
unnatural shapes. Every tree, shrub and plant 
has a habit of growth peculiar to itself, and 
this very peculiarity is one of its beauties. 
If we prune all trees into regular shapes we 
destroy their identity. The pruning knife 
should be used to assist nature, and operated 
with good judgment; to lop off straggling 
branches, to thin the head of a tree which has 
become too dense, and to remove dead wood. 
Each shrub has peculiarities of habit and 
foliage, and we should aim to preserve them 
as far as possible. Judicious pruning to se- 
cure health and vigor is necessary, but trim- 
ming all kinds of shrubs into one form shows 
a lack of appreciation for natural beauty, to 
say the least. Weigelas, Deutzias, Forsythias 
and Mock Orange flower on the wood of the 
preceding year's growth, hence the shrubs 
should not be pruned in Winter or Spring, but 
in June, after they have finished flowering, 
when the old wood should be shortened or cut 
out, thus promoting the growth of the young 
wood, which is to flower the following season; 
Spirses, Lilacs, Althaes and Honeysuckles may 
be trimmed during the Winter or early in 
Spring, but the branches should only bu re- 
duced enough to keep them in good shape. 
The old growth should be occasionally thinned 
out and the suckers and root sprouts removed 
when they appear. The best time, however, 
for pruning all shrubs is when they have done 
flowering. The Hydrangea paniculata grandi- 
flora should be severely cut back and thinned 
early in Spring. 
Prumng Evergreens. — Use the knife occa- 
sionally to thicken the growth and preserve the 
shape. This can be done in April or May, 
just before the trees start to grow. 
For Lawns and Small Places. — Whatever 
specimens are planted should be of the finest 
species, of moderate size, of graceful habits of 
growth and handsome foliage. 
A pendulous tree or one with variegated 
foliage may be occasionally introduced, and 
will add to the beauty of the grounds. De- 
pend mainly upon dwarf shrubs for small 
places, and in selecting, aim at securing a suc- 
cession of bloom. Dwarf evergreens are very 
useful, and in small grounds hardy herbaceous 
border plants can be used with the most sat- 
isfactory results; a proper selection will afford 
as much bloom as ordinary bedding plants, and 
at half the trouble and expense. 
American White Birch 
41 
